Abstract:

Students who do not have a degree of education at the university level are first-generation university students. In this study, we will try to understand the experiences of this student group in the COVID-19 epidemic process. The COVID-19 epidemic is a global process that has profoundly affected social, cultural, economic and political life that the world has never experienced before. The areas and difficulties that it affects have been shown by studies that different groups, especially disadvantaged groups, are more negatively affected. One of the most important demographic groups affected by the infection is the youth. Young people in the educational process have been forced to move from face-to-face education to distance/online education through the “home stay” policy. This transition has caused inequalities within themselves to be more apparent and re-produced. International studies indicate that the first generation of university students are a disadvantaged group. In this study, in order to understand the patterns of experience in the epidemic process of this group of students, which forms three-quarters of university students in Turkey, the semi-built properties performed with 14 students were evaluated by the thematic analysis method and four main topics emerged: economic challenges, online education, family return and friendship relationships. All the difficulties under these topics appear to affect their participation in education and have the potential to create problems for their postgraduate lives. Therefore, as it is clear from the experience in the epidemic period, any possibility that universities provide for up-social mobility is very valuable for first-generation students. Thus, establishing policies for institutions to meet their needs, investing in their academic, social and cultural capital will contribute to increased individual and national well-being.

Keywords: