Doctoral Research Forum - Chaima Mennai - Pasts, Presents and Possible Futures in an Expanding Postgraduate Landscape: Gender, Remote Residency and Transitions to Postgraduate Education in Algeria

Pasts, Presents and Possible Futures in an Expanding Postgraduate Landscape: Gender, Remote Residency and Transitions to Postgraduate Education in Algeria.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present my doctoral research, which is an exploratory study around transition into postgraduate education for women who are located in a remote southern province of Algeria. Drawing on a critical conceptualisation of transition as a process of becoming (Gale & Parker, 2014), this presentation explores the complex picture painted by the participants in my study in constructing their narratives of transition into postgraduate courses. This exploration aims to enhance a nuanced understanding of the transitional process to postgraduate study, in relation to gender configurations against the backdrop of the shift in internationalising the higher education structures in Algeria. In its entirety, my thesis offers insights into, and analysis of, how the politics of regionalism mediates access to HE for women graduates.

About the Speaker

I am an early career researcher at the Graduate School of Education, University of Exeter. I am passionate about researching access to, and success in, higher education, with reference to gender and social mobility. I am also interested in flexible blended learning/teaching environments, developing inclusive designs and their potential to transform the experience of the diverse body of learners. I have recently defended my thesis for a PhD in Education (2020), and my presentation at the Doctoral Research Forum is based on this research project. I am currently working on future publications in relation to methodological, theoretical, and analytical aspects of my research.