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Higher education students as consumers

A cross-country comparative analysis of students’ views

Bibliographic Data

ID11920096
AuthorsAchala Gupta (0000-0002-3172-8198, University of Southampton, corresponding author), R Brooks (0000-0002-8692-1673, University of Surrey), Jessie Abrahams (0000-0002-7459-4791, University of Bristol)
Year2023
Volume55
Issue2
Pages174-191
Publication date2023-07-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCompare A Journal of Comparative and International Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-7925 • E-ISSN: 1469-3623
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057925.2023.2234283
OpenAlexW4384927694
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited22

The rapid expansion of neo-liberal regimes has effectively transformed how students – their role and purpose – are understood in society. Scholars, especially in the Anglophone North, have shown how dominant policy narratives tend to position students as consumers. More recent studies have begun to explore students’ views of this construction. However, much of this work focuses on a particular country; thus, how students’ opinions may vary across contexts remains largely underexamined. Redressing this gap, this article explores students’ perspectives on being constructed as consumers in Denmark, England, and Spain. It discusses similarities and differences across and within these countries. The paper shows that most students find this construction profoundly problematic and counter to the ideals of education as a public good. Yet, different, often contrasting, themes from students’ narratives signify the relevance of the funding regime and the level of stratification within HE sectors in shaping students’ understanding of consumerist discourse across Europe

Cross country · Demographic economics · Economics · Mathematics education · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Higher Education Governance and Development · Higher Education Practises and Engagement · Higher Education Research Studies · Medicine · Psychology

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Unique citing works12
Citations per year6
Citation span2024 - 2026 (3)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 12
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