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Aspirations, Capabilities and Navigating Future-Forward

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Abstract

In this final empirical chapter, we take a slightly different angle but one which captures what we have discussed in the earlier chapters about opportunities and outcomes, focusing on aspirations as a lens to understand how inequalities function in actual lives. This requires some elaboration of our conceptual approach to aspirations, showing how it is compatible with and also draws on capabilities. We are aware that in South Africa, young people in higher education have already realized a significant aspiration in accessing higher education without which other things (including employment and better income) would not be possible. On the other hand, we reiterate the inequalities in access: for every 12 children who enter school, one will make it to higher education (IRR 2016).

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Walker, M., Fongwa, S. (2017). Aspirations, Capabilities and Navigating Future-Forward. In: Universities, Employability and Human Development. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58452-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58452-6_8

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-58451-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-58452-6

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