Changing mindsets and becoming gritty: Mature students’ learning experiences in a UK university and beyond

Abstract

This article focuses on narrative interviews with mature students at one partner university that was part of the UK higher education (HE) Changing Mindsets project and research (2017–19). Changing Mindsets comprised workshops and training aimed at supporting students and staff in five participating universities to develop a growth mindset and diminish implicit bias and stereotype threat. This would help increase staff expectations of learners and student engagement. Inductive analysis of interviews identified ways in which mature students benefited from Changing Mindsets workshops, and how their developing growth mindset in combination with grit strengthened their sense of agency and ability to succeed in higher education and aspects of life outside university. Our original contribution to knowledge stems from mature students’ retrospective accounts of developing a growth mindset and grit before starting HE; and how they became more aware of and developed these traits at university following the Changing Mindsets workshops.