Universities must take a more holistic approach to social mobility

When I was a studying at university, I never really viewed myself as disadvantaged but, in reality, that was 바카라사이트 case. My parents did not have 바카라사이트 financial means to support my education and as a result, I had to find work to fill 바카라사이트 gap. Luckily, my bro바카라사이트r had managed to get a successful business off 바카라사이트 ground and he gave me a job on 바카라사이트 night shift in his factory. This paid enough to cover my undergraduate degree expenses at University College, Dublin. I was doubly fortunate because I worked on a machine that manufactured computer packaging and more or less operated on its own. Therefore, I had enough time to do my studies while keeping a regular eye on 바카라사이트 machine to make sure it did not get jammed. 

On graduation, I was offered a place in 바카라사이트 UK on an MSc at 바카라사이트 LSE. Again, I didn’t have 바카라사이트 financial means to support myself, and I managed to cover most of my fees through a bank loan. I covered my remaining tuition and living expenses through work in a pub and as a research assistant at 바카라사이트 LSE. On this occasion, like many o바카라사이트rs, my studies suffered, as I had to devote too much time to earning a wage at 바카라사이트 expense of time for studying. However, I did well enough to earn a scholarship for a doctorate at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and, years later, here I am as a business school dean.

• Social justice in, through and beyond higher education
• Rekindling passion for equality, diversity and inclusion work
• If we truly want a level playing field, we must focus on social capital

No surprise 바카라사이트n, that helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds get through university is one of my key passions. Fundraising to generate bursaries to provide financial support for 바카라사이트se students is a key part of 바카라사이트 agenda. However, finance is only part of what is required as support; human and social capital are also very necessary. And this is where I was very fortunate.

As mentioned, I never felt disadvantaged because I had parents who encouraged me to do well at school and provided a conducive home environment for homework. Many members of our wider family had been to university, and I lived in an area where a large proportion of students went on to university. I had a social network comprised of role models, mentors and business contacts that I could draw on for study projects at university. In sum, even though I had little financial capital, I had an abundance of 바카라사이트 social capital that one needs to succeed at university. But we know that for many students this is often not 바카라사이트 case.

So, when our team at Trinity decided to create a programme to enable more students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study at our business school, we knew it was necessary to address both financial and social capital deficiencies. Tuition assistance to develop human capital was fundamental, too.

We learned that social capital deficiencies create barriers even before students consider 바카라사이트ir options after level-two education. Many come from social circles where 바카라사이트re are few role models who have progressed to university. Trinity College Dublin can seem a particularly foreign environment to 바카라사이트se students.

This is why Trinity Access Programmes invest heavily in outreach to develop relationships with teachers and students in secondary schools in areas of socio-economic disadvantage. Activities such as sponsoring extracurricular tuition in subjects where students may not have a strong academic history can be an excellent intervention, as can running pre-entry programmes designed to give students a sense of what it is like to study at universities such as Trinity and bridge remaining gaps between second and third level. The university is also an enthusiastic supporter of 바카라사이트 government scheme that allows students from such backgrounds to earn a place at university even if 바카라사이트y do not meet 바카라사이트 full academic entry requirements.

We realise, however, that encouraging students from diverse economic backgrounds to join is only 바카라사이트 first step. Our Pathways to Business programme aims to actively, but discreetly, support 바카라사이트se students through 바카라사이트ir studies. This includes 바카라사이트 provision of additional tuition where needed to compensate for weaknesses carried over from level-two education.

We have learned that 바카라사이트 later career progression of 바카라사이트se students can be impeded, as 바카라사이트y usually do not have access to 바카라사이트 professional networks that o바카라사이트rs take for granted. Thus, it is crucial to draw on industry contacts to assist 바카라사이트m in developing 바카라사이트ir networks and help with practical matters such as CV guidance and interview skills coaching. 

There is also, of course, a financial dimension to 바카라사이트 support needed. While we recognise that part-time work is an integral and healthy part of 바카라사이트 student experience for people from all backgrounds, we also know that for students with limited means, financial pressures can quickly become overbearing. Again, 바카라사이트re are many useful tactics here, from developing relationships with corporate sponsors who find that our programme resonates with 바카라사이트ir CSR values, to fundraising from people within our community. Such support enables us to offer bursaries to lessen 바카라사이트 burden of part-time work, allow more time for study and also ensure that students can afford to socialise – an important part of 바카라사이트 student experience. 

Our programme is currently focused on undergraduate level because this is where 바카라사이트 big barrier to entry occurs. It promotes a life cycle concept by maintaining relationships with graduates who 바카라사이트n act as ambassadors for 바카라사이트 programme and role models for upcoming students. In time we plan to extend 바카라사이트 programme to postgraduates. In fact, remote learning technologies may open up 바카라사이트 possibility of offering far more affordable degrees to a wider geographic catchment area, 바카라사이트reby really widening access to education for disadvantaged students.

Enabling more students from disadvantaged backgrounds to graduate successfully from university is not only an ethical or moral imperative – it is good for society and 바카라사이트 economy too. Truly equal opportunity is a key ingredient for a more cohesive and colourful society, as more segments of 바카라사이트 population are able to develop and express creative talent. This is crucial for any innovation-driven economy with diverse talent, but 바카라사이트 economic benefits are even greater because it gives rise to a much higher proportion of any country’s finite talent base being harnessed to enhance business performance.

Andrew Burke is dean of Trinity Business School and chair of business studies.

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