Talented young people from non-academic backgrounds face specific challenges on their academic path, as shown by their underrepresentation at universities and their higher dropout rate across Europe. They face more barriers to education than students from academic backgrounds, and struggle to overcome these obstacles without tailor-made support. However, specific needs of first-generation students are rarely considered by educational institutions and policymakers.
To address this issue, project “POWERst – emPOWERing first-generation STudents” aims at fostering social inclusion by building a more inclusive Higher Education System in Europe while at the same time supporting university staff. The purpose of the project is to help first- generation students to successfully complete a higher education study program and to consider pursuing a scientific career by supporting and empowering them and potential applicants as well as by providing teaching staff with the necessary tools to contribute to a more inclusive Higher Education System in terms of social background.
The POWERst policy brief gathers recommendations directly from first-generation higher education students and university staff at the partner universities of the POWERst Project (University of Stuttgart, Sciences Po Bordeaux and The Faculty of Medicine VU Amsterdam). With these recommendations we aim to provide novel ideas from and to (first-generation) students facing challenges before, during and after their studies. We present several guidelines and best practices for more inclusive approaches and a more effective diversity management at schools and universities. Further, our recommendations to policymakers at different levels aim at bridging the gap between policy and practice for a more diverse and inclusive higher education.