Navigating Parenthood and Academia: Understanding the FHNW Student Parent Experience

Abstract

Higher education, while a ‘safe space’ for some, transforms into a complex landscape filled with considerable challenges for many parents. This thesis aims to make the FHNW student parents experience more salient: (1) by exploring their experiences and challenges, providing a foundational understanding; (2) by investigating their support needs; and (3) by proposing potential support mechanisms that the FHNW could implement to accommodate student parents more appropriately, addressing both their needs and the deficiencies in current support structures.