University students' perception of how informal education influences cultural security: A Saudi institution experience

Abstract

This article reports a study conducted on Saudi university students, including both males and females. The study used a 21 items questionnaire that aims to elicit students' responses regarding social security and to what extent formal education could affect their perception of cultural security. These questions are designed to check the students' perception and understanding of culture and cultural security within the Saudi context and they also aim to show how Saudi society could influence and shape many cultural and ideological concepts adopted by Saudi university students. Other questions were written in the questionnaire in order to elicit students' views on the role of informal education in enhancing their concept of cultural security, as the idea of informal education is subsumed under small categories like social, media, religious and family categories. After analyzing their views and responses to the questions of the questionnaire, it was revealed that both males and females agreed on defining culture as 'a scientific and academic knowledge' and a representation of 'social and family values' which construct the 'identity of individuals'. However, there has been a salient contrast between males and females regarding the role of culture. Females disagreed with the assumption that culture helps people 'to appreciate modern art'.