Intellect and Individuality

Adjusting College Students’ Support Services to Students’ Type: Lithuania's Case

“…Students identifying themselves with the vocational type perceive college as a necessary step in achieving their goal of a better paid career. These students view practical work experience as more important than intellectual discussions at a higher education institution (Dollinger et al, 2002). The non-conformist type of student differs from all other types as having the lowest identification with a higher education institution.…”

“…Bahr (2010) points out that higher education institutions are asked to achieve greater educational outcomes with fewer resources and notices that clear and comprehensive perception of the nature of student population can help policymakers, administrators and other stakeholders to optimise the use of limited resources and to maximise the benefits received by students. A number of authors note (Bahr, 2010;Hendel and Harrold, 2007;Dollinger et al, 2002) that one of the ways to be better acquainted with the needs of students from a particular higher education institution is the identification of student types. The identification of student types in a higher education institution can also help to reveal the demand of student support services.…”

“…Clark-Trow (1966) student typology based on student identification with the level of a higher education institution is widely used in research literature (Hendel and Harrold, 2007;Dollinger et al, 2002). ClarkTrow (1966, cited from Hendel andHarrold, 2007) distinguishes four types of students: academic, collegiate, vocational and non-conformist.…”

“…ClarkTrow (1966, cited from Hendel andHarrold, 2007) distinguishes four types of students: academic, collegiate, vocational and non-conformist. According to Dollinger et al (2002), the academic type of student assigns greatest importance to new ideas and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake and generally aspires to the cultivation of intellect. For the academic type of student, a higher education institution is as important as it helps to achieve personal development.…”

“…The non-conformist type of student differs from all other types as having the lowest identification with a higher education institution. Students identifying themselves with the non-conformist type emphasise individual interests and styles, concern for personal identity and are generally critical of and detached from their college, faculty and administration (Dollinger et al, 2002).…”