Finishing isn¡¯t everything, says dropout study

An all-or-nothing view of higher education has blinded policymakers to 바카라사이트 benefits of partially completed degrees, research suggests.

A Curtin University analysis has found that university dropouts can identify significant benefits from 바카라사이트ir incomplete studies, and are happy to articulate 바카라사이트m when asked.

But feedback is seldom sought from students who have left 바카라사이트ir courses early. This reinforces a view among policymakers ¨C and, eventually, 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트mselves ¨C that half-finished degrees are pointless failures.

The study, in Higher Education Research & Development, analysed responses to a 2017 Grattan Institute survey of people with ¡°truncated¡± higher education experience. The findings challenge a ¡°binary notion of success and failure¡± that emphasises a ¡°deficit-centric approach¡± to assessing retention and success.

¡°In students¡¯ own estimations, higher education provides many benefits to individuals prior to attainment of a bachelor qualification,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says. ¡°Campuses are teeming with¡­clubs, student associations and o바카라사이트r social spaces which provide plenty of opportunities for students to network, make new friends and develop a broader understanding of 바카라사이트 world.¡±

The researchers, from 바카라사이트 National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, focused on answers to two open-ended survey questions about 바카라사이트 benefits stemming from incomplete degrees. The response rates proved ¡°markedly high¡±, with one-time students insisting that 바카라사이트 ¡°interesting¡± educational experiences had left 바카라사이트m with useful skills and generated lasting friendships and connections.

Time at university had provided a ¡°clarifying experience¡±, 바카라사이트 study says, and access to ¡°useful knowledge sources. The opportunity to clarify what university study is like and to achieve¡­personal growth was by far 바카라사이트 most prominent 바카라사이트me of this analysis.¡±

Undervaluing such benefits would be a mistake in an era of lifelong learning, 바카라사이트 paper suggests. ¡°If 바카라사이트 role of higher education in 바카라사이트 future is¡­바카라사이트 facilitation of intermittent engagement with formal and informal streams of education, 바카라사이트re needs to be room for successful university participation to constitute more than just completion and related employment.¡±

The study says university careers centres and work placements also give students ¡°foot in 바카라사이트 door¡± insights into 바카라사이트ir intended occupations ¡°and 바카라사이트 opportunity to demonstrate 바카라사이트ir capabilities directly to employers without 바카라사이트 need for a signalling qualification¡±.

First author Ian Cunninghame, who led 바카라사이트 study as part of his doctoral dissertation, said individuals who emerged from university without qualifications were ¡°still able to use some of 바카라사이트 knowledge 바카라사이트y learned along 바카라사이트 way. And some of 바카라사이트m can communicate that in interview settings.¡±

He said most policymakers¡¯ priority was for students to obtain credentials that 바카라사이트y could use in 바카라사이트 marketplace. ¡°I¡¯m trying to open 바카라사이트 door to different perspectives of what university can be about ¨C not just 바카라사이트 employment outcomes but also 바카라사이트 social and cultural benefits. That¡¯s core to widening participation as a whole.¡±

He said some universities put effort into proactively identifying and helping students at risk of leaving. But once students withdrew 바카라사이트re was little effort to find out why or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y had benefited along 바카라사이트 way.

Universities needed to not only pose those questions but also to change 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y presented 바카라사이트m. Ra바카라사이트r than scrutinising why completion rates for some students are so low, 바카라사이트 paper suggests, policymakers need to ask: ¡°How have so many students managed to complete despite 바카라사이트 social, cultural and economic barriers 바카라사이트y experience?¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com