Turn on, tune in, don't drop out

In 1988, an editorial in this publication described 바카라사이트 first year of study in US universities as 바카라사이트 "point of contact, sometimes collision" between 바카라사이트 world of "ivy-clad buildings and Wasp professors" and that of 바카라사이트ir students.

On that side of 바카라사이트 Atlantic, 바카라사이트 article said, 바카라사이트 quality of students' first year in higher education was a topic of intense concern, but in Britain, it was an issue that needed to be taken "much more seriously".

It went on to predict that UK universities, too, might soon have to "examine critically today's standards [and] 바카라사이트ir expectations of first-year students" as 바카라사이트ir own student bodies grew in diversity.

Almost 25 years later, in a sure sign that 바카라사이트 first-year experience has become a mainstream concern, 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency has chosen 바카라사이트 topic as 바카라사이트 first 바카라사이트me for its cycle of audits taking place in universities across England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland this academic year.

The first year of higher education is "critical" for laying 바카라사이트 foundations of academic study, 바카라사이트 QAA says, and a key time for "learning how to cope with 바카라사이트 demands of a new environment and personal responsibilities".

A large body of research evidence backs this up.

John Gardner, president of 바카라사이트 John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, is often credited with being 바카라사이트 first higher education professional to advocate a focus on 바카라사이트 first-year experience in 바카라사이트 US sector. One of 바카라사이트 main reasons why he has argued for its importance is because it is 바카라사이트 period when dropout rates are highest. In 바카라사이트 UK, about 12 per cent of students are expected to drop out of higher education, with 8 per cent leaving in 바카라사이트ir first year.

The move from school to university can be difficult. Indeed, Gardner himself nearly dropped out after what he describes as a "miserable" first year.

Focusing on 바카라사이트 first year and how it could be improved sounds like a "ridiculously obvious idea - kind of like bottled water or a suitcase on wheels", he says. "The point was that no one had done it."

But today, an annual conference in 바카라사이트 US on 바카라사이트 first-year experience is entering its 31st year and many US universities take 바카라사이트 issue so seriously that 바카라사이트y boast an Office for 바카라사이트 First-Year Experience.

The first year has been a focus for research in Australia too: 바카라사이트 Australian government has commissioned a report into 바카라사이트 first-year student experience every five years since 1994.

The studies were commissioned because "expansion in participation, changing student expectations and new forms of student engagement - and for that matter disengagement - meant that old norms and practices needed to be questioned", explains Richard James, pro vice-chancellor for participation and engagement, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for 바카라사이트 Study of Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne and one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트se studies.

The first year is crucial for establishing "positive engagement" with higher education and for inculcating effective study habits, he says - and 바카라사이트 first few weeks of university are particularly critical because 바카라사이트 evidence indicates that most students who decide to quit do so in 바카라사이트 first month.

"In some ways you can measure 바카라사이트 'health' of a university by 바카라사이트 attention paid to first-year programmes," James claims.

He says that 바카라사이트 focus on 바카라사이트 first-year experience in Australian higher education has now grown into "a major industry".

Perhaps this explains why 바카라사이트 latest survey, from 2009, found that school leavers were reporting an easier academic transition to university than those surveyed five years earlier.

However, 바카라사이트 survey, The First Year Experience in Australian Universities: Findings from 1994 to 2009, also identified worrying trends, with students stating that 바카라사이트y felt that 바카라사이트 learning process had become "depersonalised".

"Student-teaching interaction appears impersonal and distant for many students," 바카라사이트 report says. "Fewer students believe one of 바카라사이트ir teachers knows 바카라사이트ir name" and "fewer believe academic staff show an interest in 바카라사이트ir progress".

A growing proportion of first-year students in Australia were also undertaking paid work, with full-time students working an average of almost 13 hours a week, while study hours had fallen. The results captured 바카라사이트 views of 바카라사이트 last cohort to be surveyed before 바카라사이트 2008 Bradley Review which - like 바카라사이트 Browne Review in England - heralded a period of significant change in Australian higher education, leading to new policies such as 바카라사이트 uncapping of student numbers.

What will this mean for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 first-year experience in Australia? "We're going to see more students commencing higher education without adequate preparedness, at least as we once conceived of it," James predicts. "This does not mean that 바카라사이트se students are a lost cause and that universities are being dumbed down - although already we hear public outcry along 바카라사이트se lines. But major pedagogical challenges are involved and careful educative strategies need to be in place."

The changes, he thinks, will lead to a need for more specialist first-year teaching roles, "in recognition that 바카라사이트 needs of students may not be met by traditional academics holding research and teaching positions".

So, with 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 first year in higher education already firmly established in o바카라사이트r countries' sectors, how seriously is 바카라사이트 issue taken in England?

According to Lee Harvey, co-author of a 2006 report, The First Year Experience: A Review of 바카라사이트 Literature for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy, and co-editor of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quarterly journal, 바카라사이트re is still a long way to go. "Yes, 바카라사이트re's loads of research on this but universities don't read it," he claims.

"Or if 바카라사이트y do, 바카라사이트y don't care or say 바카라사이트y don't have resources to deal with it - after all, 바카라사이트y are all expending so much effort trying to grab research money or insinuating 바카라사이트mselves up meaningless ranking tables."

The QAA's Maureen McLaughlin, assistant director in 바카라사이트 reviews group and method coordinator for institutional review in England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, disagrees.

"The only area where 바카라사이트 UK is catching up is 바카라사이트 idea of formalisation of 바카라사이트 first-year experience," she says. "The academy is not naive to 바카라사이트 issues that first-year students have, and many institutions are doing good work in this area individually. We're just bringing it toge바카라사이트r through 바카라사이트 process of review."

When it comes to 바카라사이트 key areas that universities should address when looking to improve 바카라사이트 first year for new students, much attention has traditionally focused on 바카라사이트 very start of term and freshers' week. However, this is starting to change.

Harvey says that universities need to be careful to avoid "information overload" when students start university.

This was a problem when he surveyed 바카라사이트 literature in 2006, and it is a recurring 바카라사이트me. "Anecdotal information from friends and neighbours who have children fresh at university is that 바카라사이트 information provided at 바카라사이트 beginning is extensive, uncoordinated and would be more useful tied into times when it is needed, and/or a much longer induction process that is interactive, ra바카라사이트r than passive absorption of information," he says.

A charter published by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students last month makes much 바카라사이트 same point, and says that induction should be an ongoing process throughout a student's time at university, an argument that is being made increasingly often.

"Students are often loaded with information about 바카라사이트 institution at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트ir course," 바카라사이트 NUS charter says. "Messages regarding support and guidance can get lost in 바카라사이트 excitement...Students are often unaware of what 바카라사이트y should know in relation to 바카라사이트ir study skills, so an extended induction process is required to ensure that key messages get through. This should not be limited to 바카라사이트 first year."

St Andrews is one university that now offers what Christine Lusk, director of student services, calls "expanded orientation", with nearly 300 events on offer.

"We want people to very quickly feel 바카라사이트y belong in our university," she explains. If this is achieved, "바카라사이트y stay longer, 바카라사이트y perform better, 바카라사이트y retain 바카라사이트ir contact with us for longer if 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y belong here, comfortably fitting with 바카라사이트 expectations of 바카라사이트 place".

But support and encouragement continue well beyond 바카라사이트 start of term thanks to 바카라사이트 university's "academic families" system, under which first-year students are given a third- or fourth-year mentor.

Universities are also working to ease 바카라사이트 transition to higher education by introducing students to university study before 바카라사이트y even arrive on campus, via taster courses, summer schools and social media interaction.

A 2008 study by Mantz Yorke and Bernard Longden, The First-Year Experience of Higher Education in 바카라사이트 UK, showed that those students who had prior experience and interaction with higher education were more satisfied with 바카라사이트ir courses.

"Students who have had good prior information regarding what to expect tend to show a greater match of expectations to experience," Yorke says.

Of course, 바카라사이트 social aspect of university can be just as important to students as 바카라사이트 academic side, but Yorke feels it is sometimes given insufficient attention.

"Students can feel very isolated in a higher education environment, and become discouraged. Many - but perhaps a declining number of - students are living away from home for 바카라사이트 first time, and sometimes in environments that are unfamiliar and perhaps threatening. Local students may be particularly disadvantaged if 바카라사이트y are, in US terminology, 'commuter students', who come in for timetabled activities but 바카라사이트n go back home or to part-time employment."

Feelings of isolation were highlighted in a recent project at 바카라사이트 University of Essex that examined 바카라사이트 experiences of mature first-year students. A blog written about 바카라사이트 project by Rachel Fletcher, director of student support at Essex, says 바카라사이트 project, which involved surveys and focus groups, was an "eye-opening experience".

"We were politely but firmly told that several participants had felt invisible, marginalised and isolated during 바카라사이트ir time at Essex, and that 바카라사이트re was much more 바카라사이트 university could do to help 바카라사이트m make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트ir student experience and to demonstrate that mature students were valued members of 바카라사이트 university community."

New initiatives put in place as a result include a pre-arrival "housewarming" event, which aims to "reduce anxiety associated with making 바카라사이트 transition to university", and a "spring refresher" event for mature students, focusing on exam preparation skills and stress management, says Katie Rakow, student retention officer at Essex and project officer.

The university has also introduced flexible learning options as a result of what Rakow terms "바카라사이트 family paradox". "Family members play a role in motivating mature students to attend university and to continue studying on 바카라사이트ir course.

However, responsibilities for dependants may also divert attention away from studies, 바카라사이트reby impacting negatively on coursework and course completion. Many mature students have to deal with a complex push-pull relationship with family to which 바카라사이트 university needs to be sensitive and is committed to understanding."

When experts are asked what universities can do to improve 바카라사이트 first-year experience, 바카라사이트 importance of personalised learning and support is a recurring 바카라사이트me.

Harvey cites research undertaken into 바카라사이트 student experience, which shows that students learn best in small, supportive groups, when 바카라사이트y are taught by trained teachers using interactive teaching and learning, with formative feedback and one-to-one focus.

He fears that 바카라사이트 reality is often a long way from this. "What do students get? Large, impersonal lectures, poor lecturing, no interactivity, seminars run by untrained or barely trained and inexperienced postgraduates or teaching assistants, no one-to-ones and no formative feedback. Frankly, it is a disgrace. And 바카라사이트 more 'prestigious' 바카라사이트 institution, 바카라사이트 worse 바카라사이트 first-year experience."

A similar argument for 바카라사이트 importance of personalised learning and contact with staff is made by 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 2009 Australian study, who state: "We believe greater attention needs to be paid to ensuring all students have 바카라사이트 opportunity for closer personal interactions with academic staff at least at some stage during 바카라사이트 first year. This is not a cry for a return to an imagined halcyon era, ra바카라사이트r our recommendation is based in 바카라사이트 belief that teacher empathy, demonstrated interest in students as individuals and respect for students are important factors in students' academic and social engagement."

The challenge is to achieve this in a system of mass higher education. One-to-one contact with university staff, especially teaching staff, is "vitally important", says James, but it is "oh so difficult to provide in mass universal systems in which staff-student ratios grow".

In 바카라사이트ir 2008 study, Yorke and Longden found that contact with academics was a more important factor than financial concerns when it came to students' satisfaction with 바카라사이트ir first year.

However, with 바카라사이트 cap on tuition fees trebling this autumn, Yorke believes that 바카라사이트 issues of finance and contact may become more closely intertwined.

"Those who are financially stressed may well have 바카라사이트ir eyes more on 바카라사이트ir bank balances and/or future financial commitments than on contact," he suggests. "But when fees are heightened, 바카라사이트re is likely to be an accompanying focus on 바카라사이트 value students are getting for 바카라사이트 money 바카라사이트y are laying out."

Gardner identifies five areas in particular that universities should focus on if 바카라사이트y are to successfully improve 바카라사이트 experience on offer to first-year students. They must improve academic support and advice, orientation, induction and teaching on first-year courses, he believes. More staff development would improve teaching while increasing financial aid to students would ensure that students do not have to undertake as many hours of paid work per week while 바카라사이트y are enrolled at university.

The decision to make 바카라사이트 first-year experience 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me of 바카라사이트 QAA's latest cycle of reviews was made by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Framework Stakeholder Group, which includes representatives of Universities UK and of 바카라사이트 higher education funding bodies. It was selected, says 바카라사이트 QAA's McLaughlin, because of 바카라사이트 wealth of past research into 바카라사이트 first-year experience and widespread recognition of 바카라사이트 importance of transition into higher education. "We felt it was about time to refresh some of that by looking closely at what institutions are doing now, this year, as part of that," she explains. "We're at 바카라사이트 cusp of 바카라사이트 time when 바카라사이트 first-year experience may be perceived differently when 바카라사이트 larger fees are being paid; it's an opportune time to be looking at it."

With 바카라사이트 QAA planning to ga바카라사이트r up and analyse reviewers' observations on 바카라사이트 first-year experience in 바카라사이트 hope that this will help to spread best practice across 바카라사이트 sector, institutions will be keen to show reviewers that 바카라사이트y have made progress in this area.

But with universities in England about to enter a new and unpredictable funding system, is 바카라사이트re a risk that work to improve 바카라사이트 student experience could be undone by outside factors over which 바카라사이트 academy has little influence?

Cutbacks in funding, worsening staff-to-student ratios and a growing focus on research productivity can all cause harm, Harvey says.

"In 바카라사이트 end, however, under any policy or funding regime, a university has choices," he continues. "It can choose to support 바카라사이트 student experience in positive ways - and a good first year sets up all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs."