Category

• Emerging Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Prevention
• Mitigation

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Poverty driver

• Non-driver - improving quality of life

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Keywords

• First Generation students
• Higher Education
• Mentoring
• Poverty
• Educational outcomes

Aim

My Academic Family aims to provide information and support to first-generation students in Glasgow that are applying to or enrolled in Higher Education.

Summary

My Academic Family is a social enterprise that provides information and support to first-generation students in Glasgow. It provides one-to-one support orientated to help “new” students understand the academic environment to maximize their Higher Education experience. The support includes recognition of university opportunities, strategies for managing stress and anxiety, strategies for improving academic and social outcomes, and care mechanisms for first-generation students.

What difference does it make?

My Academic Family provides opportunities for young people from deprived backgrounds to apply for and successfully complete university level study.
Support and mentoring for first-generation students increases self-confidence, supports academic success and reduces social isolation.

Organisations

My Academic Family

Location

Glasgow and online

Key take-aways

• The mentoring services are free for refugees and people seeking for asylum.
• The mentoring services are delivered through volunteers, who follow training and guidance that was developed through the feedback of other participants of the project.
• People who participated in the project increased their success rate for being enrolled in a Higher Education course.
• People who participated in mentorship increased their confidence regarding accessing university services and support. Their sense of belonging to their educational institution also increased.

 

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