View in EDS

Evaluating Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Admissions: A Case Study of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluating Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Admissions: A Case Study of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute
Language: English
Authors: Desiree Chinasamy-Dampies (ORCID 0009-0000-3628-0479), Babette Rabie (ORCID 0000-0003-0463-8645)
Source: Transformation in Higher Education. 2026 11.
Availability: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Student Recruitment, Student Diversity, College Admission, Career and Technical Education Schools, Blacks, Minority Group Students, Disproportionate Representation, Barriers, Equal Education, Racism, Financial Support, Student Needs, Language Usage, Inclusion, Costs
Geographic Terms: South Africa
ISSN: 2415-0991
2519-5638
Abstract: This study evaluates student recruitment, selection and support strategies at the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute (EATI) to assess their contribution to diversity and transformation. Using a multi-method, embedded research design, the study assesses the impact of transformation policies on previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs). A secondary analysis of EATI admission and enrolment data (2016-2022) is supplemented by two questionnaires: one for admitted applicants who enrolled and another for those who did not. Findings indicate that institutional efforts, such as bursaries and an upgraded Student Information System (SIS), have expanded access at the EATI. However, enrolments among PDIs, particularly black, coloured and Indian (BCI) students, remain disproportionately low. Key barriers include limited financial support, inadequate accommodation, language constraints and a weak alignment between institutional identity and student expectations. These issues underscore systemic inequities in higher education and the gap between official policy discourse and the realities faced by students. Contribution: The study contributes to discussions on higher education transformation by highlighting the unique challenges confronting agricultural colleges. It underscores the importance of enhanced financial support, targeted marketing and recruitment, language inclusivity and infrastructural improvements to enable equitable participation and sustainable transformation in South African higher education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1501401
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1501401
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1501401
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Evaluating Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Admissions: A Case Study of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Desiree+Chinasamy-Dampies%22">Desiree Chinasamy-Dampies</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3628-0479">0009-0000-3628-0479</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Babette+Rabie%22">Babette Rabie</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0463-8645">0000-0003-0463-8645</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Transformation+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Transformation in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 11.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 12
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Recruitment%22">Student Recruitment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Diversity%22">Student Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Admission%22">College Admission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+and+Technical+Education+Schools%22">Career and Technical Education Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Blacks%22">Blacks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Group+Students%22">Minority Group Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disproportionate+Representation%22">Disproportionate Representation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racism%22">Racism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+Support%22">Financial Support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Needs%22">Student Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Usage%22">Language Usage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusion%22">Inclusion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Costs%22">Costs</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africa%22">South Africa</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2415-0991<br />2519-5638
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study evaluates student recruitment, selection and support strategies at the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute (EATI) to assess their contribution to diversity and transformation. Using a multi-method, embedded research design, the study assesses the impact of transformation policies on previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs). A secondary analysis of EATI admission and enrolment data (2016-2022) is supplemented by two questionnaires: one for admitted applicants who enrolled and another for those who did not. Findings indicate that institutional efforts, such as bursaries and an upgraded Student Information System (SIS), have expanded access at the EATI. However, enrolments among PDIs, particularly black, coloured and Indian (BCI) students, remain disproportionately low. Key barriers include limited financial support, inadequate accommodation, language constraints and a weak alignment between institutional identity and student expectations. These issues underscore systemic inequities in higher education and the gap between official policy discourse and the realities faced by students. Contribution: The study contributes to discussions on higher education transformation by highlighting the unique challenges confronting agricultural colleges. It underscores the importance of enhanced financial support, targeted marketing and recruitment, language inclusivity and infrastructural improvements to enable equitable participation and sustainable transformation in South African higher education.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1501401
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1501401
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Recruitment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Diversity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Admission
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Blacks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minority Group Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disproportionate Representation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Equal Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Racism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Financial Support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Needs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Usage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inclusion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Costs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: South Africa
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Evaluating Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Admissions: A Case Study of the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Desiree Chinasamy-Dampies
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Babette Rabie
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2415-0991
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2519-5638
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 11
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Transformation in Higher Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1