Thursday 7 June 12:15-14:00 (lunch available from 1200)
Room: SJC, Conference Centre, CC004 (Worcester Room)
Description: This Share and Inspire session will outline the key findings from a University retention and success project aimed at improving the transition experiences of Direct Entry, Foundation Degree and HND students who progress to Top-Up/Honours Degrees.
Sector research (e.g. French, Kempson and Kendal, 2015; Thomas, 2002; Thomas, 2012; Yorke and Longden, 2008) identifies a number of key transition points in the undergraduate student journey and that experiences prior to and at these points can have consequences for student satisfaction, progression, retention and achievement. Findings from this project suggest differences in students’ experience of transition to Top-Up/direct entry to L5/L6 of Honours Degrees at course/discipline level and that this represents a particular point of transition that may have some similar as well as distinct student needs in comparison to the ‘typical’ Honours Degree student. In particular, their transition can involve changes in culture, purpose, and connectedness and this may challenge their resourcefulness and capabilities to succeed.
This session will identify the key challenges and factors that may impede successful transition, provide the opportunity for you to share your own experiences and best practice in managing effective transitions and will showcase some initiatives from Institutes which aim to improve the student’s transition experience and promote student success.
It is particularly relevant to course leaders and anyone else seeking to further develop their approaches to support transition for students on HNDs, Foundation Degrees or ‘Top-Up’ Degrees or those who have direct entry students joining undergraduate courses at Level 5 or Level 6 of the Honours Degree.
Please book onto the workshop via the staff development portal under ‘your online services’ and select ‘academic development’ from the dropdown menu.
University of Worcester Staff News 