Exploring Interventions Leveraged by Black Female Students
Exploring Formal and Informal Interventions Leveraged by Black Female Students to Complete Their Studies
Theresa Eka and Blessing Abiola, supervised by Rica Peters, Jessica Agboola, Bronwen Swinnerton, and Nina Wardleworth
About the student researcher
I’m Theresa Eka, a final year medical student at the University of Leeds. I have personally used a varying number of both formal interventions such as scholarships, and informal interventions such as community funded mentoring throughout my educational journey. As a black female student myself, I am honoured to be able to partake in research that will highlight the experiences of those within my community. This project will allow my colleagues and I to formally research the multi-dimensional lives of black female students, and the methods they use to offset the range of challenges that affect their university experiences. By researching, and collecting evidence on the black female experience at university, I hope to actively impact future generations of students, through partaking in the creation of an inclusive, aware and supportive environment.
I’m Blessing Abiola and I am in my fourth year of studying medicine at the University of Leeds. I am honoured to partake in researching the important topic of the challenges and factors that contribute to the studies of black females at university. Having faced financial and personal difficulty in my second year of medical school, I am eager to not only identify the issues black females face but to create a safe space for improvement and support needed for these students where positive changes are continuously being made. I am the first generation to attend university in my family and to also study medicine. Growing up with parents who worked as a taxi driver and healthcare worker, it was instilled in me to work hard and focus on my education to have a fulfilled and comfortable life. Throughout my journey as a student, I have faced many challenges and I am excited to work with my colleagues to see a change in the hard experiences of black females at university. I hope to see such changes that make an impact so great that it can be seen after many years to come!
Project overview
The awarding gap, and educational outcomes for students from ethnic minorities has been well studied for many years. However, one particular minority ethnic group - black women, have not had their individual experience as thoroughly researched. Our project aims to identify those challenges faced by black female students at university. By spotlighting the lived experiences of black female students, we can explore the formal and informal interventions used by them to complete their degrees. Through the support of the University of Leeds, and KINSIS (a social enterprise supporting black women in higher education), we will conduct a literature review, interviews, surveys, and complete a qualitative and quantitative analysis of primary data to pinpoint the factors impacting the success of black female students. This study will provide valuable insights into the lived experiences of black female students, and will allow us to make suggestions to create a more supportive educational environment, and contribute to work regarding the Access and Student Success Strategy.
If you are interested in finding out about the project findings, please contact the project supervisor.