Supporting and engaging students who are the first in their families to attend university: A practise paper.

Authors

Keywords:

First in family, Higher Education, educational equity, retention, student success

Abstract

Globally, first-in-family learners represent a significant proportion of the university student population, yet these high rates of participation are not necessarily matched by equally high success rates. Instead, internationally the research on this group indicates that these learners are at greater risk of departure from university when compared to their second and third generation peers, often as a result of limited exposure to academic culture and expectations. This article provides an overview of current research on first-in-family learners and also, offers some recommendations for supporting and engaging with this cohort within university settings

Author Biography

Sarah O'Shea, University of Wollongong

Associate Professor/ Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow

Adult, Vocational & Higher Education | School of Education | Faculty of Social Sciences

67:308 | University of Wollongong NSW 2522

Australia

T +61 2 4221 5838 

Twitter: @Uni_FiF

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Published

2016-06-30

Issue

Section

Invited