Enhancing Aspirations and Pathways to Higher Education for Low SES Migrant and Refugee Communities: 2014 findings report

This study presents the findings from seven in-depth interviews and an online survey with mi gr an t students at Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) concerning their educational aspirations. The focus of this study was students from low socio-economic backgrounds and refugees who used Swinburne mentoring and counseling pathway services. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of Swinburne’s mentoring and pathways’ support to this group of low SES migrant and refugee clients; and to provide recommendations to improve Swinburne’s model and programs. In seeking to understand 'aspirations', students were asked to share their experiences at Swinburne and educational barriers that they faced in seeking support to achieve academic success.