@article { , title = {The influence of cultural capital and mianzi (face) on mature students’ orientation towards higher education in China}, abstract = {In the wider context of national growth and investment in higher education in China, more mature students seek to gain access to university education. Considering the far-reaching socio-economic and political shifts in contemporary China and its higher education sector in particular, this study explores the experience of mature university students in this country and poses the seemingly simple question as to why these students did not pursue higher education when they were school-leavers, but chose to study at a mature age. Drawing on biographical interviews with 20 Chinese mature university students, the paper explores their aspirations, motivations and tribulations behind embarking on higher education. Revisiting Bourdieu’s ideas on ‘inherited’ and ‘acquired’ cultural capital and examining the related Chinese cultural notion of mianzi (‘face’), it is argued that family and social networks are decisive factors in mature students’ orientation towards higher education.}, doi = {10.1080/03057925.2018.1490999}, eissn = {1469-3623}, issn = {0305-7925}, journal = {Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education}, note = {Full Terms \& Conditions of access and use can be found at (Print) 1469-3623 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ccom20 To cite this article: Shanshan Guan \& Josef Ploner (2018): The influence of cultural capital and mianzi (face) on mature students' orientation towards higher education in China, Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education To link to this article: https:// Submit your article to this journal View Crossmark data}, pages = {1-17}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {Routledge}, url = {https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/945670}, keyword = {Education and Pedagogy, Education}, year = {2018}, author = {Guan, Shanshan and Ploner, Josef} }