Culture as capital in higher education: Toba Batak families’ interpretations of Hamoraon, Hagabeon, and Hasangapon

While higher education is widely recognized as a pathway to social mobility in Indonesia, structural and economic explanations often overlook the role of cultural values in shaping educational aspirations. This study examines how Toba Batak families in Greater Jakarta interpret and mobilize the values of hamoraon (wealth), hagabeon (lineage), and hasangapon (honor), collectively known as the 3H philosophy, in relation to higher education. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concepts of cultural and symbolic capital and Weber’s theory of social action, the study employed a qualitative case study design within an interpretive paradigm. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis involving 12 informants, including parents, students, and traditional leaders, and analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña interactive model. The findings indicate a reinterpretation of the 3H values in the context of higher education. Hamoraon has shifted from an emphasis on physical assets toward education-based well-being; hagabeon increasingly emphasizes the educational achievements of descendants rather than their number; and hasangapon is expressed through academic credentials that confer social recognition and family prestige. These findings suggest that the 3H philosophy functions as a dynamic cultural resource through which Toba Batak families negotiate traditional values, educational aspirations, and the demands of contemporary urban life.