THE LIVED EXPERINCES OF FIRST-GENERATION MALE STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF QUAID-I-AZAM UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

Abstract

The present research examined the Lived Experiences of First-Generation Male Students in Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. First-generation students are those who are first from their families who reached university-level education. These students have faced issues in both hostels and universities. The majority of the first-generation students belonged to rural societies where they have had limited interaction and social exposure. This research is qualitative. The universe of the study was Quaid-i-Azam University. The target population was male students of master's and Bs students who were living in hostels. The data was collected through an interview guide in face-to-face interviews with the respondents. The results were analyzed in themes and sub-themes. The results of the study showed that the majority of the first-generation students belonged to poor backgrounds, have limited economic opportunities. Many students faced some issues and challenges in hostels and in classrooms. These students have limited social circle and interaction. Moreover, the majority of the respondents have stated that they felt a difference between college lived and university lived. The university lived prepared students for their practical lived and enhance their skills and capacities of every day lived. First-generation students have faced both challenges and also, on the other hand, they have had some real-lived experiences to learn and fulfill their goals through legitimate means. Universities need to enhance the learning of first-generation students through the introduction of different scholarships and other opportunities to the students.