This collaborative project by the University of South Australia (UniSA), the University of Adelaide and Flinders University aims to articulate the transformative possibilities of entering higher education and provide practical advice for first in family (FiF) students on how to negotiate university life successfully as well as offer guidelines for academics, university managers and policymakers on how to improve outcomes for this previously under recognised equity group.
The intended purpose of this research is to build on previously collected quantitative data to provide a greater narrative richness and ‘voice’ to the lived experiences of FiF students. An extended review of the literature will be conducted and an annotated bibliography developed to show what is known about the FiF student experience both in Australia and internationally. A series of narrative inquiry case studies conducted with final year FiF students from the three South Australian universities, who were previous participants in the first year student expectations and experiences (SSEE) project, will build on aspects of the literature review. The outcome will be a compelling collection of stories which properly reflect the cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional nature of the FiF student experience. It will enable institutional staff and policymakers to see how their actions and practices may be viewed through the students’ eyes. In addition, we will develop factsheets and run workshops for FiF students that provide practical advice on ways to successfully negotiate university life, as well as provide factsheets and seminars for university staff on how to better support this equity cohort.
This project aims to:
develop an annotated bibliography of the international literature on first in family students' experiences at
university;
interrogate previously collected quantitative data on first in family students’expectations and experiences
of university;
develop resources for first in family students on ways to successfully negotiate university life;
develop resources for university staff on how to better support first in family students;
develop a series of narrative inquiry case studies on first in family students’ experiences at university;
develop a set of recommendations for university staff and policy makers on how to improve the first in
family student experience.
The intended purpose of this research is to build on previously collected quantitative data to provide a greater narrative richness and ‘voice’ to the lived experiences of FiF students. An extended review of the literature will be conducted and an annotated bibliography developed to show what is known about the FiF student experience both in Australia and internationally. A series of narrative inquiry case studies conducted with final year FiF students from the three South Australian universities, who were previous participants in the first year student expectations and experiences (SSEE) project, will build on aspects of the literature review. The outcome will be a compelling collection of stories which properly reflect the cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional nature of the FiF student experience. It will enable institutional staff and policymakers to see how their actions and practices may be viewed through the students’ eyes. In addition, we will develop factsheets and run workshops for FiF students that provide practical advice on ways to successfully negotiate university life, as well as provide factsheets and seminars for university staff on how to better support this equity cohort.
This project aims to:
develop an annotated bibliography of the international literature on first in family students' experiences at
university;
interrogate previously collected quantitative data on first in family students’expectations and experiences
of university;
develop resources for first in family students on ways to successfully negotiate university life;
develop resources for university staff on how to better support first in family students;
develop a series of narrative inquiry case studies on first in family students’ experiences at university;
develop a set of recommendations for university staff and policy makers on how to improve the first in
family student experience.