HERE Project Presentation for European First Year Experience Conference 2010
Transcript of HERE Project Presentation for European First Year Experience Conference 2010
HERE – Learning from the DoubtersBecka Currant, Ed Foster & Chris Keenan
Background
• HERE Project set up as part of the ‘What Works? Student Retention & Success Programme’
• HEFCE/ Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Collaborative project
• Two strands– Why do more students have doubts than leave?
• Surveyed at all 3 institutions – March – May 2009 • Followed up with focus groups and interviews
– What can programmes do to have a positive impact on retention?
Why did students have doubts?
Strand One: Student DoubtersStudent Transition Survey
Have you considered withdrawing at any point during your first year?
Please tell us what made you consider leaving.
What has helped you decide to stay on your course?
Student Transition Survey (March – May 2009)
NTU BU
Sample Size 656 89
% doubters 37% 45%
% male doubters 31% 36%
% female doubters
41% 50%
Age Slight rise as students age
More doubts among younger students
Disability 50% 60%
Part time 43% 0%
Progression
NTU BU
Sample size 370 52
% withdrawal from this sample
4.3% 3.8%
% withdrawal among doubters
8.8% 4.3%
% withdrawal among non-doubters
1.7% 3.4%
Reasons Why Students Considered Leaving (NTU) HERE Project (March - May 2009)
(263 responses from 219 individual respondents)
112
38
28 2622
137 7 7
3
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Course-related issues
Student lifestyle (accommodation & students)
Finance
Personal incidents/ problems
Personal /Emotional
Homesick/ Missing family
Other
Doubts about future goals
Lack of support
location
Current Course Experiences: Doubters vs. non-doubters (Bournemouth)
% is the number of students who agreed or strongly agreed with each statement
Base = 87 (doubters = 40, non-doubters = 47)
33%
35%
48%
43%
48%
53%
63%
45%
45%
75%
45%
75%
65%
88%
68%
70%
85%
45%
49%
55%
64%
64%
66%
68%
70%
72%
72%
74%
74%
74%
85%
91%
96%
96%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
I feel valued by teaching staff
My course is w ell organised
The feedback I receive about my w ork is useful
The assessment on my course is w hat I expected it to be
I am confident that I w ill have enough money to complete my course
My taught sessions(such as lectures, seminars) are interesting
Lecturers are accessible
I w ould know w here to go w ithin the university if I had a problem
I feel confident that I can cope w ith my coursew ork
I have an enjoyable social life
I have enthusiastic lecturers teaching on my course
My fellow students are supportive
I like the house/f lat/halls that I am living in
My family is supportive
I have easy access to university resources e.g. computers, library booksthat I need)
My subject is interesting
Completing my degree w ill help me achieve future goals (e.g. career)
Non-doubters
Doubters
Why did doubters choose to stay?
Reasons Why Student Doubters Stay at University (BU)HERE! project March-May 2009
BU data: 62 responses from 36 first year respondents who had doubts
22
13
75 5 4 4
2
0
5
10
15
20
25
Suppo
rt fro
m fa
mily
and
frien
ds
Adapt
ing to
cours
e/un
ivers
ity
Lack
optio
ns/h
ard
to tr
ansf
er/co
st
Deter
min
ation
/inte
rnal
fact
ors
Suppo
rt fro
m in
stitu
tiona
l sta
ff
Futur
e go
als/e
mplo
ymen
t
Oth
er
Loca
tion
Reasons why Student Doubters stay at University
HERE Project March - May 2009 NTU data 198 responses from 171 first year respondents
55
3428 27
24
14
7 63
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Some Recommendations
Implications from the research
• To improve retention requires work in two areas:
• Reduce student doubting– Particularly course related factors
• Work on the reasons why students stay– Particularly friendship, community, belonging factors
Thanks very much for your time
Any Questions?