A contemporary higher education student-choice model for developed countries

Abstract

This research proposes a contemporary higher education student-choice model for developed countries through a contingency methodological route. The research initially utilizes existing models, interrelating them and distilling the important parameters affecting student behavior, to develop an integrated preliminary generic higher education student-choice model. Subsequently, refinement and conceptual development of the preliminary model takes place through an extensive literature review of generic developed-country consumer behavior theories. These theories provide the practical and theoretical parameters that stipulate and regulate the environmental and behavioral context of developed-countries' student choice. They combine with the preliminary model to produce a contemporary higher education student-choice model for developed countries and to accordingly recommend a new higher-education-institutions' marketing direction and approach. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.