The FirstGen project for first-generation students at Swiss universities

Entering university without any family members having gone down the same path is a unique formative experience, characterised by the lack of direct family role models and the need to find one’s way in an academic environment that is often taken for granted by those who grow up within it. Despite its prevalence, this situation remains largely overlooked in the debate on equity and inclusion in higher education.

FirstGen addresses this situation; it is a national cooperation project funded by swissuniversities, in which USI is a partner alongside ten other Swiss academic institutions. The FirstGen Network is a national information platform dedicated to first-generation students – that is, those who are the first in their family to pursue a university education. The website, available in Italian, French, German and English, offers practical resources, advice and testimonials to support those in this situation at the various stages of their journey (before enrolment, during their studies and after obtaining their first degree). Topics covered include funding for studies, academic guidance and career prospects.

Among the initiatives promoted by the platform, the FirstGen Network is a space open to students, researchers and graduates who share the experience of being the first in their family to attend university. The network was established with the aim of creating opportunities for discussion, offering mutual support and promoting greater awareness of the issue within Swiss academic institutions. Because knowing that you are not alone can make a real difference.

The website highlights and brings together various initiatives aimed at first-generation students and academic staff. These include the University of Zurich’s GROW Empowerment Programme, which is dedicated to postdoctoral researchers and first-generation academic staff. The platform also provides a catalogue of recommendations, available for download in German and French, aimed at higher education institutions, with practical guidance on reducing inequalities linked to social background and promoting equal opportunities.

These initiatives are complemented by two dedicated events, designed to foster genuine dialogue within university communities: “Shared Roots, Different Routes”, an online discussion bringing together voices from different stages of an academic career, and “From Roots to Results”, an interactive discussion on how one’s family educational background influences academic and professional pathways.

Further information is available on the First-generation students website.

As part of our collaboration with the FirstGen Network, the Università della Svizzera italiana community is invited to the online event “From Roots to Results: An Interactive Reflection on Educational Family Background, Privileges, and Achievement”, scheduled for Monday 4 May 2026.

We all start in the same classroom, but not everyone starts from the same point. The session offers an interactive reflection on how family educational background influences academic and professional paths, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked aspect of being – or not being – the first person in one’s family to have attended university. This is not just about looking back: it is an opportunity to understand the value of one’s own journey and to celebrate resilience and the achievements attained.

The event is open to the entire university community: students, academic and administrative staff. Participation is free of charge, subject to registration via the following link.

For further information: [email protected]