Increasing visibility of students with caring responsibilities in Higher Education

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In this post, Dr Michelle King-Okoye, Dr Aigli Raouna and Dr Jo Alexjuk, at the School of Health in Social Sciences, shed light on the various University events and research initiatives aimed to support and enrich the experience of students with caring responsibilities. This post belongs to the Mar-April Hot Topic series: Being student parents/carers↗️


In higher education, where students are constantly juggling their academic pursuits, social lives, and personal exploits, there is an ‘invisible’ subgroup whose responsibilities extend far beyond the classroom. These are students who shoulder multiple roles of pursuing their educational aspirations amidst either caring for their children, elderly parents, or family members with disabilities or psycho-social problems. As more adults are pursuing studies at later stages in their lives, the percentage of them entering university as carers and/or parents are higher. Students with caring responsibilities also reflect the international student population, which are sometimes overlooked. Those that bring their young children with them in their quest to pursue studies often lack support networks, which adds a myriad of challenges to their student life. With the current UK immigration rules↗️, students can no longer bring their dependents, which may potentially deter them from pursuing their goals.

Increasing diversity and widening participation are the current initiatives for students in higher education. Yet, more needs to be done for students with caring responsibilities, who are considered one of the largest subgroups of students in higher education. Their journey is rather unique and often challenging.

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This blog post aims to highlight some of these challenges and activities that were stepping stones to supporting and increasing the visibility of this group in the School of Health in Social Science. We also offer recommendations based on engagement with students that are useful to their teaching, learning and overall well-being. We use the term ‘Students with caring responsibilities’ to capture student parents, student carers, expectant parents as well as those planning for a pregnancy during the course of their studies.

Overarching framework: The Buddy Scheme & Student Ambassador Scheme

In 2022-2023, we interviewed 33 current and former students with caring responsibilities across the School of Health in Social Science. This research project, led by Michelle and Aigli and supported by the Student Experience grants↗️, aimed not only to gain insights into the experiences and support needs of this group, but also to foster connections and raise awareness on a broader scale. While we are still working to reach our goal, we have taken some steps forward. So far, as detailed below, we have co-organised a family activity day and two seminars with key organisations.

We have also worked together with students to create two awareness videos and to set up peer support groups. The ‘Buddy Scheme’, which pairs students from similar programmes of study to be their brothers/sisters’ keeper has potential to strengthen peer relationships and provide support. The ‘Student Ambassador Scheme’ identifies someone (with lived experience) who will act as an advocate for students with caring responsibilities according to cohort and is a promising pathway for this subgroup of students.

Events for students with caring responsibilities in 2023

Student carers

According to Carers Trust (2024)↗️, a carer is, “anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support”. Student carers from the School of Health in Social Science describe some of the challenges and support recommendations they are faced with in this short video↗️. There was a general consensus across the group being the first time they were able to share their struggles and triumphs experienced during their studies. For some, at one seminar↗️ with invited carers organisations, this was an eye-opening experience as they were made aware that they were student carers. This also facilitated help seeking for their mental health and well-being.

In another seminar, which included under 25s and over 25s as part of the Festival of Research↗️, was centred around ‘Promoting Life-long Wellbeing. It was important for those with lived experience to share their journey at the seminar. Jo and current students shared their experiences as student carers and the complexities encountered along the way. Having experienced the role of caring for both her father and mother, as well as six close family bereavements during her PhD studies, Jo described how resilience was a key aspect for her success and overall well-being during her studies whilst also working as a lecturer at the university. Student carers were appreciative of this safe and closed space to share the difficulties experienced during their university life. This will be discussed in a separate blog post.

Some attendees at the Impact event in March 2023 for Students with caring responsibilities; Ratna and Jennie organised and hosted the event. (Photographs shared with required permissions)

Student parents

In an effort to increase visibility and diversity, a hybrid impact event was organised for student parents who were encouraged to bring along their children. Ratna Gandana and Jenni Tseng (postgraduate students) led this activity as part of an EDI student-led initiative. Local and international students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels attended.  Michelle was invited to share her lived experience as an expectant mother and student parent whilst completing her PhD studies. Entitled, ‘Stay the course’, students stated they felt empowered seeing Michelle as a role model and someone who has been in their shoes. Some useful tips and strategies were shared for the expectant student mother and postpartum stages, some of which specifically targeted international students who are faced with visa restrictions and lack social capital.

Pictures showing three student parents that attended the event with their children. (Permission granted to use photos)

At the event, hearing the sound of babies and children laughing and feet pattering in the background were reminders that student parents are dedicated to achieving success. Including children as part of the event was a first of this nature, which student parents and expectant parents embraced. It is important that student parents have these spaces to not only normalise their existence but also to create awareness in the wider university.

In another video↗️, student parents express the joys of parenthood with their loved ones re-igniting their passion when they face low points whilst pursuing their educational goals. The inclusion of the carer and child room in the main library↗️ is a step in the right direction geared for student parents as well as expectant student parents. More needs to be done to make student parents feel seen and supported, such as time management workshops tailored to the needs of students with caring responsibilities and financial support for childcare for both international and home students.

Excerpts from two focus group interviews conducted with student parents.

Expectant parents

Considering that higher education has both short term and long-term courses, ranging from 1 year to 5 years and beyond, more students are either expectant parents or considering this milestone during their academic journey. At most higher education institutions, expectant parents receive very little attention. At the event for student parents, expectant mothers and fathers were also invited to attend. For these students, this was helpful as they engaged with other students who walked this journey before and found their tribe. The event connected students based on shared experience and provided a hub for them to discuss facilitators and barriers to their learning. Students desired flexibility to attend antenatal appointments and have these embedded in their timelines as standard.

Peer-led support group

Arising from the student carers involvement, a peer-led student parents and carers group was recently formed. This aligns with the Student Ambassador Scheme conceptualised by Michelle. Mathilde and other student carers from both undergraduate and postgraduate levels received mentoring and support from Michelle to lead this support group (see below). Continuing with the EDI initiative, this is a safe space for student carers to meet face-to-face and online to engage in meaningful discussions, and to participate in social activities, such as mindfulness, craft-making, vision board workshops and outdoor walks.

Recommendations

Dr Jo Alexjuk, the Coordinator for Adjustments, was invited to consider including this subgroup in light of their unique needs, such as flexibility in teaching and assignment submissions. Video conferencing and online support may be needed for this subgroup of students at different stages of their journey. Lobbying with the Home Office and extending timelines for labour/birth and early stages for expectant parents, and altering engagement from face-to-face to videoconferencing are valuable adjustment strategies moving forward.

The qualitative research findings will form an integral component of the policy document currently being done in collaboration with carers organisations. Highlighting the invisible challenges and strengths of this subgroup can also be done as part of ongoing EDI initiatives. More events are needed to provide safe spaces for this group of students to offer tailored support. This can include networking events at the wider University, beyond the school. Such activities can normalise these milestones, create impact thus establishing the increasing diversity initiative.

Are you a Student parent OR Student carer at the University of Edinburgh?

Please contact Mathilde Lotteau at M.J.Lotteau@sms.ed.ac.uk  if you would like to meet with others like yourself at the Student Carer Buddies commencing in May 2024. Come join our tribe!

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge all the students that organised and participated in the event and seminars, including representatives from carers organisations. A special thanks to Vito Vitacca for contributing to the videos.


Photograph of author 1 Dr Pauline FergusonMichelle King-Okoye

Dr Michelle King-Okoye is a lecturer in Nursing Studies at the School of Health in Social Science, and co-director at the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh (currently on extended leave). Michelle has an interest in widening participation and increasing diversity for students. She also enjoys utilising innovative and novel teaching/learning activities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.


Aigli Raouna

Dr Aigli Raouna (she/her) is a former Clinical Psychology PhD student at the School of Health in Social Science (HiSS). Her research explored intergenerational pathways of risk and resilience during the perinatal period in the context of clinical and subclinical mood disorder symptoms. She is the founder of Research Bow, a PGR blog at HiSS. Twitter: @researchBow @AigliR


photo of the authorJoanna Alexjuk

Dr. E. Joanna Alexjuk is a Lecturer in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Applied Social Science (CPASS), within the School of Health in Social Science (HiSS), undertaking numerous roles including Depute Programme Director / Academic Cohort Lead of the MA Health in Social Science Programme; Co-Lead CPASS Ethics Research, and Integrity Committee; Co-ordinator of Adjustments for HiSS.

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