Office of Public Affairs Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia B0P 1X0 (902) 585-1362 Fax (902) 585-1072 News Release For Release:  June 21, 2001

Charting the course

(Wolfville, NS) - This month marks a significant milestone in the lives of many of our youth: high school graduation.  As graduates plan their futures, they ask themselves many questions . . . what are the job prospects?  What post-secondary education is appropriate?  Am I on the right track?  Students and their families are very anxious about the future. Acadia sociologist, Dianne Looker has been trying to assist youth and those involved with their decisions through her research on the connections between education, youthful aspirations and future goals.

Looker’s research involves longitudinal studies tracking the same students from age 17 to adulthood. Through interviews at different intervals in their lives, Looker is able to discover their values and aspirations. By studying their educational paths, Looker makes connections between training and the achievement of desired goals. Looker says, “Gender differences, family support and geographical area are all factors that affect outcomes in life.”

Much of Looker’s Maritime research focuses on the differences between rural and urban areas. Looker believes that rural students face harder choices about leaving their communities to seek training, education and jobs. And, while the availability of financial resources can affect educational choices, rural students appear not to be disadvantaged as they often find help and support from extended community networks. Encouragement to follow their dreams is the most important ingredient youth need for success. Looker says, “Supportive parents are a strong influence in post-secondary education decisions.” Rural communities also face the uncertainty of losing well-educated youth to urban areas. Looker says, “Many rural communities are seeking ways to keep or attract young adults to their areas in order to ensure revitalization.”

It is Looker’s hope that her research will help high school guidance counsellors provide better information to prospective graduates and that rural areas will be able to develop effective strategies for encouraging young people to remain within the community. Looker’s research will also be helpful in the development of government job creation strategies.

Looker, who receives the majority of her funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, has just received her 13th major grant. She is the author of numerous papers and has been making connections between school, youth and their goals for 25 years.

Acadia University faculty members have received numerous grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The success of faculty in obtaining major research funding on issues of broad social significance indicates Acadia's role in the development of knowledge in Canada.

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For more information contact:
Sheri Woodland
Communications Manager
Office of Public Affairs
Acadia University
(902) 585-1362
 
 
 

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Published by: The Office of Public Affairs Last revised: June 21, 2001 URL: http://www.acadiau.ca/whatsnew/newsrelease/2001/ChartingCourse_June21.html