RURAL STUDENTS IN THE URBAN UNIVERSITIES: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERPLAY OF FIELD, HABITUS AND CAPITAL

Abstract

The phenomenon of rural students in urban universities has been explored by many researchers in different contexts, such as the developed and . underdeveloped worlds, including Pakistan. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan(2022~23), there are 25 public and private sector universities in Islamabad, Pakistan, with 0.25 million students; among them, a significant number come from rural areas of Pakistan. Therefore, the current study aimed to unpack the lived experiences of rural students in urban universities and the interplay of class and gender In their adoption into the urban university environment. I have used a qualitative research methodology with a purposeful sampling technique for this study. Furthermore, 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with rural students; among them, 15 were male and 10 were female at four urban universities in Islamabad. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. Finally, the findings were guided by '. . . the scholastic contribution of Pierri Bourdieu.: the soCial reproduction of inequality. The study findings showed that students' family background and early education playa great role in adjustment to urban universities. Rural underprivileged students face problems with corifidence, language, curriculum shifts, complex terminologies and concepts, negative rural stereotypes, . and adjustment issues in co-educational classrooms. Furthermore, newly transited rural students also face problems in the utilization of technology and in understanding university official requirements. Similarly, in social adjustment, rural students face the problems of cultural shock, anonymity, social isolation, unfamiliarity with university geography, financial crisis, and hostel accommodation. While privileged students with quality early education and stable family backgrounds facilitate a smooth adjustment to the academic and social environment of urban universities.