1. Introduction Comprised of three online courses, Academic Success: Skills for Learning, Skills for Life is a programme designed to help students moving into higher education for the first time to prepare for the academic and social changes that come with the transition. The programme seeks to equip students with the key skills and knowledge they require to fully take advantage of their time in higher education and succeed at undergraduate level and beyond. At a time when many higher education institutions must face up to the challenges posed by the increasingly competitive and scrutinised world of undergraduate education, Academic Success: Skills for Learning, Skills for Life can help your university or college improve student satisfaction and retention. Charles Sturt University, Australia Dublin City University, Ireland Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Institute of Technology Sligo, Ireland James Cook University, Australia Sheffield Hallam University University of Newcastle, Australia University of Sheffield University of Sussex University of Swansea University of Ulster University of Westminster Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Developed in collaboration with: Elisabeth Dunne Director of REACT, University of Winchester Professor Ella Ritchie, OBE - Emeritus Deputy Vice Chancellor, Newcastle University Lead Advisors

2. What is Academic Success: Skills for Learning, Skills for Life? Three online courses developed to empower and inspire students, to make sure that their time at university is as successful as possible. Easy-to-follow online learning course, with additional offline study. The programme will enable UK universities to fulfil indicators 5, 6 and 8 in the QAA quality code, demonstrating explicitly that they “have in place, monitor and evaluate arrangements and resources which enable students to develop their academic, personal and professional potential.” (reference: QAA website) Interactive activities, videos, polls and practice scenarios. A US version of the course will be available in 2016 – Student Success – developed separately. Video screenshot from course ‘What is higher education for?’: What does it mean to be part of a university or college? (module)

3. Overview of course modules Course and TimesModulesAuthors/Reviewers What is higher education for? Core: 2 hours Additional: 3 hours, 30 minutes o University/college and you o What does it mean to be part of a university or college? o Adapting to higher education o Becoming part of your university or college community Author: Dr Camille B. Kandiko Howson, Senior Lecturer in Higher Education and Academic Head of Student Engagement, King’s College London Introduction to student skills Core: 1 hour, 20 minutes Additional: 3 hours, 30 minutes o Starting your studies o Developing your study skills o Personal and organisational skills Author: Dr Eleanor Loughlin, Student Study Skills Coordinator in the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre, Durham university Academic integrity Core: 1 hour, 30 minutes Additional: 3 hours, 30 minutes o Academic integrity o How to avoid plagiarism o Navigating pitfalls Author: Dr David McIlroy, Senior Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University

4. Course content What is higher education for? This course is designed for first-year students who will be adapting to the academic and social expectations of university or college. The modules allow students to prepare for independent learning, gain the most from their time at their chosen institution and identify their personal motivations. The online materials include tips for adjusting to university life, strategies for planning out independent learning, video interviews with students, staff and graduates who share their experiences and insights, and interactive polls to compare the learners’ own thoughts and actions with that of fellow students. Introduction to student skills Introduction to student skills helps students acquire and develop the skills needed at university or college and beyond. Students will learn to develop great strategies for reading, note taking and planning assignments and presentation and focus on managing their time, workload and study space more effectively. Highlights include a self-assessment quiz to help learners decide skills that they want to develop; tips on proper netiquette when dealing with tutors and staff; examples of different note-taking styles and strategies; step-by-step instructions for organising essay and tips on SMART objective-setting. Academic integrity This course helps first year students to deal with higher education levels of academic integrity. These modules explain what the importance of academic integrity is and what it means. Learners are taught how to demonstrate academic integrity in their work and avoid plagiarism as well as how to develop academic collaborations.

5. What does it look like? Interactive activities and scenarios. Video interviews with students, staff and graduates. Case studies and practical scenarios exploring real-life examples. Customisable portfolio activities incorporating practical and in-depth reflective self-development activities. Survey tools to assess learner feedback throughout the course. Interactive polls with real-time results for course-takers to assess their answers against others. Example from ‘Introduction to student skills’ – Effective reading and note-making (module)

6. Elisabeth Dunne Director of REACT, University of Winchester Example from the ‘Academic integrity’ – Avoiding plagiarism: Paraphrasing within safe boundaries.