'Mum wanted to go to uni, but she didn't have the opportunity': what students who are first in their family to go to university say
- Written by Garth Stahl, Associate Professor, The University of Queensland
Higher education research shows families pursue university because it provides opportunities for upward social mobility. With a university education come more options for career choices and, it is assumed, increased social status.
There have been many efforts to widen participation in higher education in Australia. Due to these, 50% of the student population is estimated to be the first in their family to go to university.
But first-in-family students still struggle with balancing the demand of academic life with part-time employment, and have a high degree of attrition.
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We conducted research with 48 first-in-family students over the course of three years as they made the transition from secondary school to university. The research was published in our book Gendering the First-in-Family Experience.