scholarly journals Academic preparedness of students – an exploratory study

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Du Plessis ◽  
Daleen Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
First Year ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Academic Preparedness ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
North West ◽  
Student Failure ◽  
High Level

The high level of student failure, accompanied by an increased drop-out rate, is problematic in higher education. It is especially a concern in programmes with the subjects of Mathematics, Accounting and Science. Over many years, models of student admission and selection have been widely researched both internationally and in South Africa. Research indicates that in the academic domain, underpreparedness results from a combination of a lack of English proficiency, mathematical ability and effective study skills. In view of the above, and government policy directives to broaden access in the scarce skills areas to increase student throughput, foundation provision was introduced for students of Commerce, Information Technology, Business, Mathematics and Informatics courses at the Vaal Triangle Campus (VTC) of North-West University (NWU) in 2010. The question at that time then arose as to what criteria should be used for placing students in the extended programme. The placement of first-year students in appropriate programmes should be done with sensitivity to enhance academic success but, at the same time, should not ‘label’ students as underprepared. This paper provides perspectives on the selection criteria available for predicting academic success/preparedness, and then reports on students’ own experiences. An action research study was conducted on the academic achievement of two cohorts of first-year students at the VTC of NWU. The quantitative results of the performance of first-year students in their core modules are compared to the results of predictive tests written after admission. The results provide valuable insight into the placement of students.Keywords: Academic preparedness, extended programmes, national senior certificate, national benchmark testDisciplines: Education management studies, higher education studies

scholarly journals Introduction to academic traditions as psycho-pedagogic factor of adaptation of first year students

2019 ◽  
pp. 147-150
Author(s):  
Vladimir V. Iokhvidov ◽  
Marina Ye. Genadis ◽  
Eleonora G. Tszyu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
First Year ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Situational Anxiety ◽  
Pedagogic Theory ◽  
Made In

The article is made in the framework of the study of psychological and pedagogic factors of adaptation of students who have started to attend a higher education institution. These include ceremony of initiation in the student life, that is still little considered in pedagogic theory and practice. In our research we realised identification implicitly of the academic traditions presented in activity of higher education institution.. On an experimental basis, it is proved that the organised introduction of students into academic traditions leads to an improvement, compared with students with whom such work is not carried out, adaptation to environment of a higher education institution, situational anxiety, subjective satisfaction with learning at a higher education institution, and academic success.

scholarly journals Investigating health factors as predictor of early drop-out of first year accounting students at the University of the Free State, South Africa

Afrika Focus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-20
Author(s):  
Christa Beyers ◽  
Hanli Joubert
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Free State ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Health Factors ◽  
The University

Introduction: The future of the South African workforce looks bleak given the challenges posed, not only by health factors, including HIV and AIDS, but also the success and throughput rate of first year university students. Methodology: The research in this study was conducted in 2013 using a post-positivist approach and applying an interpretive stance using a mixed method approach, which included a quantitative non-experimental predictive multivariate design as well as focus group interviews to triangulate the findings. Results: We present findings that psychosocial background factors, physical health and emotional health influence success and non-completion rates among first year students at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Conclusion: We argue that early identification of poor psychosocial background, including health factors, can assist in empowering youths helping them to make healthy decisions and deal with stressful situations in a way that will not compromise their academic success.

scholarly journals Academic Engagement and Intention to Drop Out: Levers for Sustainability in Higher Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camelia Truta ◽  
Luminita Parv ◽  
Ioana Topala
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Engagement ◽  
Family Background ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Dropping Out ◽  
First Year ◽  
Students At Risk ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Academic Context ◽  
Early Dropout

The present paper analyses the relevance of academic engagement in the process of students dropping out of school. Previous studies have consistently shown strong associations between engagement and students’ achievement outcomes. The increased attention given to academic engagement in recent years is also visible in the efforts of stakeholders in higher education to increase engagement and, consequently, to reduce dropout. The relationships between engagement and dropout rates are somewhat fuzzier, vigor, dedication, and absorption vary inconsistently in students at risk. Using a correlation research design, we tested several dimensions of academic engagement as predictors of early dropout intentions on a sample of first-year students (N = 1063). The results showed that psychological academic engagement of students is a significant predictor of early dropout intentions. Differences in academic engagement given by family background and academic context were also tested. The implications of the results are discussed in the light of possible interventions for increasing academic engagement of university students. Also, suggestions for including employers in academic engagement and dropout interventions are given.

scholarly journals Engineering the Future

2012 ◽  
pp. 143-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Clark ◽  
Jane Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Student Attrition ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering Education ◽  
Innovative Thinking ◽  
The Uk ◽  
High Level

With the demand for engineering graduates at what may be defined as an unprecedented high, many universities find themselves facing significant levels of student attrition—with high “drop-out levels” being a major issue in engineering education. In order to address this, Aston University in the UK has radically changed its undergraduate engineering education curriculum, introducing capstone CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) modules for all first year students studying Mechanical Engineering and Design. The introduction of CDIO is aimed at making project / problem based learning the norm. Utilising this approach, the learning and teaching in engineering purposefully aims to promote innovative thinking, thus equipping students with high-level problem-solving skills in a way that builds on theory whilst enhancing practical competencies and abilities. This chapter provides an overview of an Action Research study undertaken contemporaneously with the development, introduction, and administration of the first two semesters of CDIO. It identifies the challenges and benefits of the approach and concludes by arguing that whilst CDIO is hard work for staff, it can make a real difference to students’ learning experiences, thereby positively impacting retention.

scholarly journals Crossing disciplinary boundaries: Students’ experiences of facilitating a learning support programme at a South African university

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sithabile S. Ntombela ◽  
Samukelisiwe Mngomezulu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Support ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Peer Mentors ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Disciplinary Boundaries ◽  
Support Programme ◽  
Senior Students

Increased access to higher education has brought into focus the under-preparedness of students for higher education and vice versa. As such, various programmes have been developed to enhance students’ success in universities. In one institution, an administrator and a lecturer collaborated with senior university students to facilitate a learning support programme where the students acted as peer mentors. The study sought to document students’ experiences of facilitating a peer-mentorship programme that targets first year students as well as senior students who were regarded as at risk of academic exclusion. Using a qualitative case study and Bandura’s social learning theory, 30 peer mentors were purposively selected to generate data through a peer mentors’ reflection workshop. Findings of the study suggest that the mentors were more successful in working with first year students than with senior students. The article concludes that, because of the training provided, mentors were knowledgeable about the programme and the resources available to support mentees. Further studies should solicit mentees’ views and experiences of such a programme, especially those reluctant to take part, as that will highlight areas that require attention to raise the participation and academic success of all participants.

A FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS’ ADAPTATION TO DIFFICULTIES AT HIGH EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS

2021 ◽  
pp. 97-113
Author(s):  
Nailya R. Salikhova ◽  
◽  
Aida R. Fakhrutdinova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Social Community ◽  
Transition To Higher Education ◽  
Study Participants

Data from an empirical study aimed at identifying the difficulties faced by students in their transition to higher education, the overcoming of which is important for personal development, are presented in the article. The study participants (n=179) were asked to describe the difficulties of transition from school to University in the 1st year based on analysis of their autobiographical memory. The content analysis of texts allowed identifying the main themes and compiling a list of challenges, and then the frequency of occurrence of each of them was determined. According to the results, the most actual difficulties are the different aspects of integrating into the new social community due to sharp changes in the social environment during the transition from school to University. A big challenge is the need for self-organization in educational and everyday matters, planning and organizing your time. The third most frequently mentioned is learning difficulties, especially those related to mastering the material in the new educational environment. Problematic areas of adaptation to higher education that have not been previously reflected in the sources are the establishment of a common life in the dormitory, pressure from parents, the manifestation of their individuality, the increase in the length of classes and the pace of learning, romantic relationships and language barriers. The difficulties of the first examination session are much less frequently mentioned, and are more frequently mentioned when examining the current adaptation process. The results of the study can be used for the development and subsequent implementation of a system of practical measures aimed at helping students to adapt to the new environment and conditions. Such assistance to students in building a new way of life at a university, especially at an early stage of study, is necessary not only to improve the effectiveness of the educational process, but also to facilitate the processes of personal growth and development of students

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