This dissertation studies the effect of higher education costs on students' outcomes in the labor market, particularly when credit constraints are absent. It utilizes the UK's institutional setting to identify such an effect. The key findings are as follows. (i) Increasing tuition fees does not have adverse effects on students as long as credit…

While many schools are revisiting the importance of CTE in the K 9-12 curriculum, many face constraints in the form of instructional and laboratory resources. 22 school districts of North Central Idaho and Southeast Washington region struggle to provide access to Career and Technology Education program programs due to geographic challenges,…

The phenomenological methodology employed in this dissertation delves into the intricate interplay between stress, mental health, and socioeconomic mobility among Black individuals in the United States. This study aimed to shed light on the complex difficulties experienced by Black people navigating surroundings, mostly White, in academic and…

This dissertation is centered on further understanding the warehousing hypothesis. This is a phenomenon where college enrollment patterns across the U.S. are driven by labor market conditions. The interrelated nature of individual and structural level processes motivates the fundamental question driving my research: how do race and ethnicity,…

It is generally accepted that education is a powerful enabler of social mobility in the modern world. However, access to quality and specialized education is still highly unequal, creating pathways for some groups of people and barriers to others. This dissertation explores three approaches to understanding and addressing inequalities of…

Market forces have spurred an ever-increasing number of students in developing countries to pursue higher education overseas. The United States is by far the top destination for international students, and American universities rely on international students to fill their classrooms, diversify their campuses, and enhance their global institutional…

The purpose of this study is to better understand college students' experiences of working while in college with the awareness of potential differences based on students' socio-economic status. Working while in college is a prevalent and necessary activity for most students, and this study aims to examine students' decisions to work, and the…

The remarkable economic success of the Cayman Islands is primarily driven by its large expatriate population. Expatriates make up over one-third of the total population of the Islands and half of the labor force. This has led some Caymanians to demand more opportunities for local individuals. However in April 2014, one of the two local newspapers…

This dissertation explores the significance of the bargaining power of the players involved in the wage decisions for teachers in Brazil, namely the teacher unions and the municipal governments. The dissertation is divided in two parts, which together form a broad analysis of the labor market for public school teachers in Brazil and the underlying…

The purpose of this study was to explore Bulgarian immigrants' narratives with respect to their perceptions of immigrant work challenges; learning at work; work or occupational preferences; immigrant careers, including job transitions and professional development; strategies with respect to work; support at work; satisfaction gained from work; and…

This dissertation focuses on examining the motivations, experiences, and perspectives of socially elite urban Chinese students who attend emerging internationally focused public high schools in China and who plan to study at U.S. universities. Drawing on critical theory, I integrate critical curriculum studies with educational policy studies to…

A majority of all high school students engage in the labor force by the time they complete their senior year. Few studies have investigated the long-term educational trajectories of student workers after high school graduation. Even fewer research studies have concerned themselves with ascriptive stratification patterns of the teenage labor…

Work-based learning in college--in the form of internships, cooperative education programs, and apprenticeships--sit at the crossroads of education and employment. It can play a crucial role in shaping a student's transition from school to work. This study explores the extent to which college students participate in work-based learning and the…

After the fall of the Soviet Union and its transition in the 1990s towards a democratic form of government, Mongolia was forced to embark upon a complete series of reforms within society, including within its education sector. Mongolia's higher education sector was significantly affected by this change. Private higher education institutions…