Dinamika Pembentukan Minat Melanjutkan Pendidikan Tinggi pada Mahasiswa Asal Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT): Analisis Berdasarkan Four-Phase Model of Interest Development

Participation in higher education in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) continues to face challenges related to geographical access, socioeconomic conditions, and support from the surrounding environment. These conditions underscore the importance of understanding the development of interest in pursuing higher education as a process influenced by personal experiences and the social environment. This study aims to analyze the dynamics of the development of interest in pursuing higher education among university students from NTT based on Hidi and Renninger’s (2006) Four-Phase Model of Interest Development. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach involving three purposively selected university students from NTT. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) phases. The findings indicated four phases of interest development. During the Triggered Situational Interest phase, initial interest was triggered by academic achievement, family experiences, and failure to fulfill earlier aspirations. During the Maintained Situational Interest phase, interest was sustained through family influence, the social environment, and hopes for a better life. During the Emerging Individual Interest phase, interest developed into a personal desire, characterized by the formation of life goals and initiative in preparing for higher education. During the Well-Developed Individual Interest phase, university experiences, changes in mindset, and perseverance in facing economic difficulties strengthened the commitment to completing their education. These findings indicate that the development of interest in pursuing higher education is a dynamic process involving interactions among personal experiences, family support, the social environment, and economic conditions. This study provides a contextual understanding of the development of interest in higher education among university students from NTT through the four-phase framework of interest development.