“Looking Forward”Investigating the counselling and support needs of non-traditional students in Irish third-level education

Trinity College Student Counselling Service2007

Overview Third-level students in the 21st

Century

Meeting needs through student counselling

The importance of researching ‘non-traditional’ students

Defining the ‘non-traditional’ student Mature students

Students with disabilities

Students from ethnic minority groups, including refugees

Students from the traveller community

Students from socially- disadvantaged backgrounds

Research Question

What is the current counselling provision for non-traditional students in third-level education in comparison to their traditional student peers?

Mature Students (23+ years) - Current Service Provision

02468

10121416

Third-level 1

Thirdlevel 2

Thirdlevel 3

Thirdlevel 4

Thirdlevel 5

Thirdlevel 6

Total

% in college % in counselling

Mature Students (non-CAO applicants) - Referral Rates at Trinity College Dublin

0

5

10

15

20

1998-1999

1999-2000

2000-2001

2001-2002

2002-2003

2003-2004

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

% referral rate from total student body% referral rate of mature students

Students registered with Disability - Counselling attendance

02468

1012141618

third level1

third level2

third level3

third level4

third level5

third level6

Total

% in college % in counselling

Mature Students in Counselling- Presenting Issues

010

2030

40

Presenting issues for Mature Students at UCC Counselling ServicesAugust 2004 to June 2005

Students with Disability - Counselling Service Provision

0 20 40 60 80 100

Physical

Sensory

Medical

Learning

Mental Health

IAUCC counsellors' self-rated experience of service provision (n=23)

Social Disadvantage- Current service provision

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

TCD UCC

% in college % in counselling

Finding out what students think - Qualitative research

“First year in college: the experience of mature students”

- Daire Gilmartin “The experience of students from

socially-disadvantaged backgrounds at third-level”

- Sonya Walsh

Research Questions

What are the training needs and practice guidelines required by student counselling staff in order to provide a quality service to non-traditional students in a third-level setting?

Counsellor training needs - IAUCC survey

0102030405060708090

100

RefugeeCommunity

Disability TravellerCommunity

SociallyDisadvantaged

Mature

(n=23)

Research Question

What are the counselling and support needs of non-traditional students in Irish third-level education?

Mature Students’ Needs - Qualitative findings

Choosing third-level education

“ There was no option, the option for me to come to college at that stage, after school, just did not exist…my parents wouldn’t have been able to afford it…I was so disillusioned”.

Mature Students’ Needs - Qualitative findings

Personal impact

“You’re trying to balance the subjects and the topics yourself. Finding that balance is difficult enough, but then you have to find the balance with your family, kids, friends, social life and that is really, really difficult”.

Mature Students’ Needs - Qualitative findings

Social Comparison

“…coming back to full time education from so long that you worry, and if you are heading in to your first year exams, that you’d be wondering were you up to it, were you up to the mark, could you make the grade in third level”.

Mature Students’ Needs - Qualitative findings

Coping and support

“...there’s a crowd of us. We’ve kind of formed a nucleus, there are other ‘matures’ who we’ve gotten to know…so we keep an eye”.

Mature Students’ Needs - Qualitative findings

Positivity

“I’m doing something for myself…I’m not trapped anymore. I feel like I’m working towards something as well. The goal is a Degree. Hopefully in a couple of years time…maybe who knows. I’ve got opportunities. I’m going to have choices”.

Social Disadvantage - Issues faced by students

Experiencing difference

“My Mam and Dad were very eager that I kind of got a new route, because they seen what they had to do and how they had to work…breaking their backs all the years”.

Social Disadvantage - Issues faced by students

The right to an education

“what matters is not the door you go in. It’s the door you go out”

Social Disadvantage - Issues faced by students

Future focus: the big picture

“it’s like my legacy to my kids. They will have a father who went to college…that will be another step up for them…something that I didn’t have and that will be passed on through the generations”.

Social Disadvantage - Issues faced by students

The meaning of education

“It’s given me the option…of just having what I want instead of having to settle for second or third”.

Social Disadvantage - Issues faced by students

Practical challenges

“I’m having to work. I’m in college Monday to Friday and I’m working probably one or two nights during the week and then Saturday and Sunday as well. I’m just finding it really tiring”.

Improving counselling services- some suggestions

Pro-active personal contact

Assisting time-management

Focus on relationships

Communication and information sharing

Staff training and liaison

Report Details

Available in electronic format (pdf) from:

http://www.student_counselling/tcd