Abstract:

The dissemination of higher education by establishing universities in almost every city in Turkey has increased the opportunity of students from the lower social position to access higher education. But this situation did not ensure democracy in higher education, it has transformed the problem for students from the lower social position into the problem of the quality of education achieved. In this context, it is important to study whether increased access to higher education means that students from different social positions are given the opportunity to move upward. The study aims to explain the relationship between higher education and social re-production through activities aimed at improving the university, department, living conditions and social-cultural qualities of university students who differ according to their family’s social position. The data of the research designed by the Nicel research method is obtained by the survey technique. For the survey form, the letter of approval was received with "Decision No. 2019/04(09) at the meeting of 27.02.2019 of the Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Council of the University of Karabuk" and "Decision No. 35853172-100 at the meeting of 30.04.2019 of the Senate Ethics Commission of the University of Hacettepe". The research data was collected from 800 university students. The study concluded that according to his father’s profession, education level and his family’s monthly income, students from the lower social position could have access to higher education, which does not mean that they were given the possibility of upward mobility. These students continue to be disadvantaged in terms of the universities and departments they need to study, the living conditions during their studentship, and the skills toward the labour market if necessary. Students from the top social position provide access to high-value diplomas in the labour market and have the opportunity to invest in their academic qualifications as well as social and cultural development. In this way, it appears that higher education has become an effective tool in ensuring social re-production and strengthening existing inequalities.

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