scholarly journals Transition to higher education; prospective and retrospective student experiences

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Piper ◽  
Alison Faith Kelly ◽  
Hilda Mary Mulrooney
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Personal Support ◽  
Previous Level ◽  
Transition To Higher Education ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
The University ◽  
Met Expectations

Pre-university (foundation or Level 3) study attracts significant student numbers annually, but approximately 10% of successful Level 3 students do not progress into their university degrees. This project aimed to identify the experiences of current and previous Level 3 students, using questionnaires and focus groups to explore differences by gender, ethnicity and intention to study. One hundred and two current and 56 previous level 3 students participated. Those who felt part of the university were significantly more likely to agree that the foundation course met their expectations. Personal support from academic staff, was highly ranked by students in all year groups, peaking in the final year. Despite considerable student diversity, the foundation year met expectations. However this was significantly lower for Black students compared with other ethnicities, which needs further exploration. Fostering ‘belonging’ to university is important for foundation year students to improve retention rates into their degree courses.

scholarly journals Experience and expectations of transition to higher education: a qualitative exploration

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tia Goldring ◽  
Emma Harper ◽  
Ricky Jassal ◽  
Lorrianne Joseph ◽  
Alison Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Previous Level ◽  
Focus Group Data ◽  
Transition To Higher Education ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Consistent Information

Transition to higher education is challenging, and may be more difficult for some groups than others. The transition from level 3 foundation year into level 4 offers the opportunity to explore student perspectives. Qualitative survey and focus group data were collected from current and previous Level 3 students, to ascertain student perceptions about induction, level of belonging, confidence about Level 4 and to identify useful support sources.  Over a third of eligible Level 3 students (n=102) participated, but numbers of eligible participants from Levels 4, 5 and 6 were limited. Despite the heterogeneous nature of Level 3 students the majority of students recognised the value of the foundation year. Data suggested that Level 3 students did not identify with the university. Those who did highlighted the importance of social outlets such as clubs and societies. A major cause of dissatisfaction was perceived lack of clarity about the foundation year, including the programme, subjects and physical location of the course. This was apparent across all ethnicities, age groups and both genders. Among previous Level 3 students, personal sources of support were uniformly valued although the precise source varied by year of study. Support from academic staff, via office hours and as personal tutors, was rated as most important.  Enabling academic staff to offer support to students throughout their study, and clear consistent information available throughout an ongoing transition, may help to minimise these issues.

scholarly journals The university campus and a sense of belonging: what do students think?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilda Mary Mulrooney ◽  
Alison Faith Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
University Campus ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

The physical configuration of the university campus impacts upon student learning and experience, and can be used to signal institutional priorities. The extent to which campus, particularly in post 92 institutions, is designed as opposed to evolving as older buildings are repurposed or replaced is variable. Student experiences and perceptions of the campus physical space are also unclear. This study aimed to explore student perceptions using qualitative methods. Data were collected during 8 focus groups from 37 participants. The majority were young and female, with considerable ethnic diversity. Six major themes were identified, many of which did not directly relate to the physical space itself. Rather the impact upon students’ emotional experience and engagement with the institution was emphasised. ‘Belonging’ was the most common theme; indicating that the nature of the physical space on campus is not neutral, but can affect the extent to which students can form attachments with each other and academic staff. ‘Nature’ was the second most commonly mentioned theme. Green space has therapeutic potential in stress management, important given mental health concerns in young people including students. The ideal campus as described by participants would include green non-smoking spaces with an emphasis on health promotion. Opportunities to include nature on campus should be taken, and future proposals to design the campus should canvas student views.

scholarly journals Group Identity and Groupness: Student Experiences at University

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-134
Author(s):  
Florian Elliker ◽  
P. Conrad Kotze ◽  
Jan K. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cultural Themes ◽  
The University ◽  
Transformation Processes

One of the key transformations South African universities have undergone in the past two decades is the increase of racial and ethnic diversity of their student bodies and academic staff. In this study, we seek to contribute to a better understanding of these transformation processes by presenting students’ narratives of how they experience the interracial integration of student residences. We first address the potential groupist and essential underpinnings of ethno-racial identifications by situating our categories of analysis in a social-constructivist framework, underlining the situational and processual character of identifying and establishing “groupness,” while simultaneously considering the obdurate quality habitualized ways of identifying may generate. We then present an overview of our sensitizing themes as they are discussed in the literature on race and ethnicity with a focus on South Africa and student experiences. Thirdly, the article introduces the reader to the institutional context of the case study, namely, the campus of the University of the Free State and its student residences. Based on focus group discussions and thematic analyses, we present our findings in the form of the cultural themes that are central to the students’ narrations of their experiences. These themes include the salience of racial and ethnic identifications, tolerant distance, confusion, fairness, neutrality, ethnolinguistic recognition, regional public arenas, rural-urban divides, as well as socio-economic divides.

scholarly journals The University Administrative Staff Perception of Inclusion in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 90-104
Author(s):  
Dita Nīmante ◽  
Sanita Baranova ◽  
Ligita Stramkale
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
University Education ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Administrative Staff ◽  
Staff Perception ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Interview Method ◽  
Diverse Student ◽  
The University

This study investigates university administrative staff perception of inclusion in higher education at the university level. The study uses the University of Latvia as a case to answer the following research questions: What constitutes inclusion in university education, how accessibility is provided? What are the support systems provided for diverse students? What support and training are provided to administrative and academic staff to ensure that the educational needs of diverse student bodies are met? The methodology employed is exploratory and descriptive, and uses the interview method and semi-structured questionnaire. The sample is made of seven administrative staff members representing all levels of administration in the University. Findings suggest that administrative staff members perceive inclusion as a new principle for HE, where diversity is perceived in its broader sense. Findings indicate that support is provided to all students, but that the support is not designed specifically for students with diverse needs. Findings suggested that none of the administrative staff or academics had received training on how to address student diversity.

Penglibatan Ahli Akademik Terhadap Pengajaran Hadith di Institusi Pengajian

2018 ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
Amran Abdul Halim ◽  
Abdulloh Salaeh
Keyword(s):  
Public Universities ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Islamic Studies ◽  
National University ◽  
Islamic Science ◽  
The University

This study is to identify the involvement of academicians on the teaching of the hadith. The contribution of the academicians to the teaching of the hadith is also very much needed so that Muslims can acknowledge al-Sunnah closely. The academicians were selected from Academic of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya Islamic Studies Academy, the National University of Malaysia, the Islamic Science University of Malaysia and the International Islamic University which they are all from various fields of Islamic Studies. The methodology used in this study is a questionnaire which is group sampling. The researcher distributes the questionnaire to the academic staff at the university involved. Based on this descriptive analysis of the questionnaire, it can be concluded that academic practitioners either in the field of hadith or other fields are involved and contribute to the teaching of hadith such as in public universities and other institutions. This shows that most academicians have good knowledge related to the field of hadith. Therefore, they are among the most suitable as references to the community in solving Sunnah and bidaah issues, especially the academicians who are experts in the field of hadith. Abstrak Kajian ini adalah untuk mengenalpasti penglibatan ahli akademik terhadap pengajaran hadith. Sumbangan ahli akademik terhadap pengajaran hadith juga amat diperlukan agar umat Islam dapat mengenali al-Sunnahsecara  lebih  dekat.  Ahli-ahli  akademik  yang  dipilih  adalah  dari  Akademi  Pengajian  Islam  Universiti Malaya,   Universiti   Kebangsaan   Malaysia,   Universiti   Sains   Islam   Malaysia   dan   Universiti   Islam Antarabangsa  yang  mana  kesemuanya  dalam  pelbagai  bidang  Pengajian  Islam.  Kaedah yang  digunakan dalam kajian ini adalah soal selidik iaitu persampelan berkelompok. Penyelidikmengedarkan borang soal selidik tersebut kepada ahli akademik di universiti tersebut. Berdasarkan, analisis deskriptif soal selidik ini, dapat dirumuskan bahawa ahli akademik sama ada dalam bidang hadith atau lain-lain bidang adalah terlibat dan turut memberi sumbangan dalam pengajaran hadith seperti di universiti-universiti awam dan lain-lain institusi  pengajian.  Ini  menunjukkan  bahawa  kebanyakan  ahli  akademik  mempunyai  pengetahuan  yang baik  berkaitan  dengan  bidang  hadith.  Oleh  itu,  mereka  adalah  antara  golongan  sangat  sesuai  dijadikan sebagai rujukan masyarakat dalam menyelesaikan permasalahan Sunnah dan bidaah, terutama sekali ahli akademik yang pakar dalam bidang hadith.

On Advisor Education: Evaluating Departmental Training and Professional Development Practices of Academic Staff in a Japanese University

Relay Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 271-291
Author(s):  
Huw Davies
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Peer Observation ◽  
Research Issue ◽  
Training Aids ◽  
The People ◽  
The University ◽  
Initial Research

This study is an evaluation of the professional development (PD) programme for learning advisors employed in the self-access centre at Kanda University of International Studies in Japan. The research issue investigated was whether the PD activities of advisors allow them to provide appropriate support to students at the University. The implementation of policies, the people and the setting were all considered in building an understanding of what may make the programme work. The framework used to understand this programme is realist evaluation (Pawson & Tilley, 1997), in which theories related to the initial research issue were refined and developed to offer new perspectives. Results suggest that initial training aids advisors in supporting students, but that future implementation decisions are needed for the mentoring element of the programme and on whether more peer observation should take place. The implication that informal discussion among the workgroup and the freedom to choose personal PD journeys are fundamental drivers of effective practice is a finding that may be applied to other teacher and advisor education settings.

scholarly journals A Better Learning Community: Mixed-Methods Reveal Medical Student Preferences with Implications for Learning Community Design and Implementation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 238212052110148
Author(s):  
Jasna Vuk ◽  
Steven McKee ◽  
Sara Tariq ◽  
Priya Mendiratta
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Free Form ◽  
University Of Arkansas ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Personal Support ◽  
School Learning ◽  
The University

Background: Medical school learning communities benefit students. The College of Medicine (COM) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) provides medical students with academic, professional, and personal support through a learning community (LC) made of 7 academic houses. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the academic house model at UAMS utilizing a mixed-methods survey. The aims were to: (1) assess student experience and satisfaction with academic houses, (2) describe the realms of advising and guidance, and (3) identify areas for improvement. Method: An online survey was assigned to 723 COM students (all students enrolled, first through fourth years) at UAMS in March 2019. The survey was comprised of 25 items (10 multiple-choice, 8 on the Likert scale, and 7 open-ended questions). Data was depicted using frequency and percentages and/or thematic review of free-form responses. Results: The survey response rate was 31% (227 students). The majority of students responding (132, 58.1%) attended 2 or more face-to-face meetings with the faculty advisor within the preceding year. However, 27 (11.9%) students did not have any meetings. Approximately two-thirds of the respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the guidance and direction provided by their advisors [very satisfied (n = 83; 36.6%); satisfied (n = 77; 33.9%)]. Themes that emerged from student generated areas for improvement include time constraints, advisor/advisee interest mismatch, and perceived inadequacy of advising content/connections. Conclusions: This study confirms the effectiveness of the LC model for advising and mentoring in the COM at UAMS. Uniquely, this study identifies not only learners’ satisfaction with their LC but also highlights areas for improvement which are widely generalizable and important to consider for institutions with or planning to start an LC.

A Long-Term Study of What Best Predicts Graduating From University Versus Leaving Prior to Graduation

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512098799
Author(s):  
Teena Willoughby ◽  
Victoria W. Dykstra ◽  
Taylor Heffer ◽  
Joelle Braccio ◽  
Hamnah Shahid
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Enrollment Status ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
University Degree ◽  
The University

Despite the importance of obtaining a university degree, retention rates remain a concern for many universities. This longitudinal study provides a multi-domain examination of first-year student characteristics and behaviors that best predict which students graduate. Graduation status was assessed seven years after students entered university. Participants (N = 1017; 71% female; mean age in Year 1 was 19 years) enrolled in a Canadian mid-sized university completed a survey, provided their enrollment status over the next 6 years (regardless of whether they left university), and consented to have their grades and status provided by the Registrar. Overall, 79% of students graduated by Year 7 (44% in 4 years). The strongest predictor of graduation was first-year grades. Social engagement in the university also predicted graduation. Surprisingly, mental health was not a significant predictor of graduation. Only a minority of students may experience mental health difficulties to such an extent that it affects their ability to succeed at university.

Towards Academic Successor Selection Modelling with Genetic Algorithm in Multi-Criteria Problems

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.33) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Atiqa Zukreena Zakuan ◽  
Shuzlina Abdul-Rahman ◽  
Hamidah Jantan ◽  
. .
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Succession Planning ◽  
Fitness Function ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Fitness Value ◽  
Selection Decision ◽  
The University ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Succession planning is a subset of talent management that deals with multi-criteria and uncertainties which are quite complicated, ambiguous, fuzzy and troublesome. Besides that, the successor selection involves the process of searching the best candidate for a successor for an optimal selection decision. In an academic scenario, the quality of academic staff contributes to achieving goals and improving the performance of the university at the international level. The process of selecting appropriate academic staff requires good criteria in decision-making. The best candidate's position and criteria for the selection of academic staff is the responsibility of the Human Resource Management (HRM) to select the most suitable candidate for the required position. The various criteria that are involved in selecting academic staff includes research publication, teaching skills, personality, reputation and financial performance. Previously, most studies on multi-criteria decision-making adopt Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP). However, this method is more complex because it involved many steps and formula and may not produce the optimum results. Therefore, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is proposed in this research to address this problem in which a fitness function for the successor selection is based on the highest fitness value of each chromosome.    

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