Abstract:
Researches the variables that play a significant role in the development of student culture, the specific nature of student culture at RAU and the extent of the relationship between student participation in student culture and the work ethic/work orientation. A total of ten in-depth interviews have been conducted. From these interviews certain variables of student culture at the RAU have been identified and used to construct a questionnaire that has been completed by a representative sample of 1 000 students. By means of factor analysis and item analysis, eight scales have been developed. Using bundle analysis, four student subcultures, namely the active, passive, hardworking and occupational subcultures have been identified at the RAU. It has been found that students have a relatively high work ethic/work orientation. With regard to the relationship between work ethic/work orientation and the various identified aspects of student culture and student subcultures it has been found that the higher the work ethic/work orientation of students, the higher their identification with the academic and occupational subcultures. From this it seems clear that it is the subculture that students identify with, rather than participation in student culture or conformation to academic student norms, that plays a significant role in their work ethic/work orientation.
