Ellesha Raspin

Ellesha Raspin is an esteemed management accountant with a robust career spanning over two decades. Over the last ten years, Ellesha has transitioned from working in early years education to focusing on higher education, driven by a commitment to fostering inclusivity and accessibility in academic institutions, cultivated by a deep understanding of the developmental and socio-economic factors that influence educational engagement from a young age. Recognising the pivotal role that early education plays in shaping future academic trajectories, Ellesha shifted her focus towards higher education, with a particular emphasis on widening participation. Ellesha currently centres her work on the relationship between human behaviour, motivation, and educational attainment among non-traditional university candidates. Her research is driven by a profound interest in understanding the unique challenges and motivators non-traditional university candidates face. These individuals, often from diverse backgrounds and varying life circumstances, face many obstacles that can hinder their access to and success in higher education. Her research explores the intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that drive these individuals to pursue higher education and the barriers that contribute to non-completion.