Peer Mentoringfor target groups What would be a valuable extension to our mentoring
programme for First Generation Students?
Victoria ReszlerUniversity of Graz
School and education fairs | Open House | Trial Days| Welcome Day | Campus tours | Temporary mobile infopoint | UNIGRAZonline contact point | Face to face counselling | Peer Mentoring | 4students:live Workshops
Online platform studying | Online platform study programs | Online platform Unigate | distance counselling via E-Mail | distance counselling via telephone | distance counselling via Facebook | distance counselling via Skype| Podcasting | YouTube | iTunesU
UNI TIPPS for prospective students | UNI TIPPS for first-year students | Info cards on study programs
4students – Student Information Service
Facts & Figures• founded in 1585• 7 organisational units: 6
faculties, 1 university administration
• 76 institutes• 32,000 students• 5,100 new students• 3,500 graduates per
academic year• 120 study courses• 4,100 employees, of
which 2,900 are scientists
• 180,000 m2 net floor area
• a budget of 205,4 million euros per year
Project
Targeted support for First Generation Students
Support in the transition from school to university
Support during the first year in Higher Education
Individual guidance in person and via e-mailPilot restricted to FGS in programmes of natural sciences
and the humanities Limited term of two years (9/2013 – 12/2015)
Problems ofFirst Generation Students
New social situation Financial pressuresTime managementOrganisationLack of acceptance and support from the
family
Situationin Austria
No A-levels/high school diploma A-levels/high school diploma
Recruitment rate according to education of fathers
University of Graz
All institutions of higher education
Universities Universities of Applied Sciences
Education of fathers
2.94 2.51 2.87 1.75
Education of mothers
3.19 2.51 2.86 1.74
Situation in Austria
Recruitment rate
among every 1000 men with A-Levels/high school diploma there are 46.4 university entrants
among every 1000 men without A-Levels/high school diploma there are 18.5 university entrants
Only 17.1% of university entrants belong to a low social class
Drop-out rate
First Generation Students: 15 % drop out in the first yearChildren of academics: 8% drop out in the first year
Status Quo
2 mentors About 150 mentees About 50 personal contacts 28 mentees attended an individual
trial day Presentations in schools Education & school fairs
Challenge: What´s next?
1. Think of a mentoring programme for a particular target group. Which target group would you choose, who needs support, what would you offer?
2. What are the benefits of a mentoring programme for particular social groups and what are the negative aspects?
Thank you!
Victoria ReszlerUniversity of Graz