These stories of successful First Nations students, from a First Nations student technical staff and graduate student, allow for a unique Indigenous perspective to contribute relevant research to the field of Indigenous education. This research will contribute to an emerging body of scholarship that underscores the distinct form of knowledge that an Indigenous paradigm provides. Through qualitative research, this research provides a better understanding of the personal, educational and cultural factors that need to be present in a post-secondary institution for First Nations students to aspire to, enter, and then successfully graduate--in this case--from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). My thesis asks the question: How are the aspirations of First Nations students at BCIT defined by their Indigenous perspective? I uncovered five themes that start to define an Indigenous student perspective: Family History, First Nations Identity, Culture, Work Ethic and Role Models. Findings of the research also provide the shared or individual factors present in First Nations students' histories and experiences that helped them to reach a level of success in post-secondary education; inform post-secondary institutions on ways to improve First Nations students' retention and graduation rates; provide qualitative research which will benefit the population of First Nations students who are considering entering post-secondary education; provide recommendations for further research in the area of Aboriginal education in school districts and post-secondary institutions; and explore the use of narrative and an Indigenous paradigm in Aboriginal research.

This thesis considers the burgeoning development of trans studies and trans policies in post-secondary schools in Canada and the United States. It is concerned with the impact of trans scholarship and trans policies on trans students of colour. The thesis consists of a textual analysis of scholarship, policy documents and newspaper articles. The tendency to prioritize the experiences of white trans people in contemporary scholarship is replicated in trans studies curricula and reinforced through policy documents. These whitening practices affect trans students of colour and limit their ability to find meaning in trans studies. Similarly, these practices limit racialized trans students’ access to university programs and services.

This thesis considers the burgeoning development of trans studies and trans policies in post-secondary schools in Canada and the United States. It is concerned with the impact of trans scholarship and trans policies on trans students of colour. The thesis consists of a textual analysis of scholarship, policy documents and newspaper articles. The tendency to prioritize the experiences of white trans people in contemporary scholarship is replicated in trans studies curricula and reinforced through policy documents. These whitening practices affect trans students of colour and limit their ability to find meaning in trans studies. Similarly, these practices limit racialized trans students’ access to university programs and services.

The purpose of this study was to identify the status and challenges of online distance education programs in post-secondary institutions in Ghana. This study was a replication of a similar study conducted in Kenya in 2009, at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. This present study was conducted with an online survey using Google survey assessment. The survey requested responses from six post-secondary institutions in Ghana. Out of a total of 450 projected student responses, 309 responses were received with a 69% participation rate. A total of 14 responses were received for instructors out of a projected 30 resulting in 47% participation rate. And for administrators, 8 responses were received out of a projected 12 resulting in a 67% participation rate. Overall the study revealed that Ghana post-secondary institutions have established and incorporated online distance education into their programs, offering both online and blended courses. Some of these institutions established regional centers across the country and incorporated foreign instructors into their programs. The survey also revealed that students were satisfied with the overall online distance education program in their institutions which included the level of instruction, feedback and evaluation. However, there were still challenges revealed from the study that included the high cost of education, frequent power outages, school stoppages as a result of instructor strikes and the need to restructure courses to include projects.