Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students
This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews and an intersectionality lens to explore the experiences of six black actuarial science students at the University of Cape Town (UCT). With the underrepresentation of black African students in South Africa's actuarial science exacerbating so...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Organisational Psychology
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613224515403776 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ntombana, Sixolile |
| author2 | Peters, Simone |
| author_browse | Ntombana, Sixolile Peters, Simone |
| author_facet | Peters, Simone Ntombana, Sixolile |
| author_sort | Ntombana, Sixolile |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews and an intersectionality lens to explore the experiences of six black actuarial science students at the University of Cape Town (UCT). With the underrepresentation of black African students in South Africa's actuarial science exacerbating societal imbalances, the research aims to unveil their experiences and factors shaping these students' mindsets. Mindsets are influenced by parental feedback, socioeconomic status, background, and socialisation, among other factors. At historically white UCT, challenges faced by black African actuarial science students stem from a clash between their diverse mindsets and the prevailing white-oriented academic environment. The study reveals that academic excellence and the desire to uplift families' socioeconomic status motivate students amid challenges tied to socioeconomic factors, language barriers, and disparate educational backgrounds. The mindset analysis reveals that prevalent discouragement, external expectations, and self-doubt rooted in predetermined negative beliefs foster a fixed mindset among these students. Conversely, factors fostering a growth mindset include resilience, determination, and socioeconomic motivations. Positive role models, supportive lecturers, and optimistic career prospects contribute to a growth-oriented perspective, emphasising individual agency, positive influences, and socioeconomic considerations. The findings underscore the urgent need for universities and actuarial science programmes to implement targeted support mechanisms addressing the unique challenges black actuarial science students face. The study advocates for increased racial representation, linguistic inclusivity, and socioeconomic equity within actuarial science, highlighting the importance of fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment. Furthermore, it urges academic institutions to invest in mental health services to alleviate the emotional toll associated with actuarial science studies. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42575 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:44.899Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Organisational Psychology |
| publisherStr | Organisational Psychology |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42575 Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students Ntombana, Sixolile Peters, Simone Zungu, Thomzonke Black African students actuarial science lived experiences mindsets intersectionality University of Cape Town This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews and an intersectionality lens to explore the experiences of six black actuarial science students at the University of Cape Town (UCT). With the underrepresentation of black African students in South Africa's actuarial science exacerbating societal imbalances, the research aims to unveil their experiences and factors shaping these students' mindsets. Mindsets are influenced by parental feedback, socioeconomic status, background, and socialisation, among other factors. At historically white UCT, challenges faced by black African actuarial science students stem from a clash between their diverse mindsets and the prevailing white-oriented academic environment. The study reveals that academic excellence and the desire to uplift families' socioeconomic status motivate students amid challenges tied to socioeconomic factors, language barriers, and disparate educational backgrounds. The mindset analysis reveals that prevalent discouragement, external expectations, and self-doubt rooted in predetermined negative beliefs foster a fixed mindset among these students. Conversely, factors fostering a growth mindset include resilience, determination, and socioeconomic motivations. Positive role models, supportive lecturers, and optimistic career prospects contribute to a growth-oriented perspective, emphasising individual agency, positive influences, and socioeconomic considerations. The findings underscore the urgent need for universities and actuarial science programmes to implement targeted support mechanisms addressing the unique challenges black actuarial science students face. The study advocates for increased racial representation, linguistic inclusivity, and socioeconomic equity within actuarial science, highlighting the importance of fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment. Furthermore, it urges academic institutions to invest in mental health services to alleviate the emotional toll associated with actuarial science studies. 2026-01-14T11:37:24Z 2026-01-14T11:37:24Z 2025 2026-01-14T11:30:38Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters Masters http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42575 en eng application/pdf Organisational Psychology Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Black African students actuarial science lived experiences mindsets intersectionality University of Cape Town Ntombana, Sixolile Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students |
| title_full | Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students |
| title_fullStr | Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students |
| title_short | Mindsets: lived experiences of black actuarial science students |
| title_sort | mindsets lived experiences of black actuarial science students |
| topic | Black African students actuarial science lived experiences mindsets intersectionality University of Cape Town |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42575 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ntombanasixolile mindsetslivedexperiencesofblackactuarialsciencestudents |