1. Supporting student transitions
Dr Michael Englard, Director of Research and Policy
Kent Heads’ Conference, 19/01/18

2. Who we are
We improve the life chances of children and young people in the UK by supporting them and their key influencers through key educational transitions.
Example programmes Academic Apprenticeship: supporting students with applications Access Champions: benchmark-based intervention supporting senior teachers to improve post-18 progression pathways
Work with 30+ universities. “The best teacher feedback I have seen in my career”, Anne-Marie Canning, Director of Student Success, King’s College, London

3. Objectives Re-consider the idea of a student “transition”:
Consider strategies for supporting transitions
Example of resource bank for supporting transitions through application support
Focus on transition from school/college to HE/FE but thinking and strategies can also be applied to other transitions.

4. Do transitions matter?
When surveyed, what percentage of students said that they would pick the same course at the same university?

5. What do we mean by student transitions?
Contested term
Commonly viewed as moving from one institution or stage of education to another. “A fixed turning point which takes place at a preordained time an in a certain place.” (Quinn, 2010)
But, recently more emphasis on different ways of viewing transitions: “the capability to navigate change” (Gale and Parker, 2014)

6. What do we mean by student transitions?
Conception
Metaphor
Dynamics
Examples
Transition as induction
Pathway, milestones
Inculcation: move from one institution and discipline to another
Defined period
First year seminars
Orientation on a campus
Transition as development
Trajectory, life stage
Transformation Distinct stages of maturation Move from one identity to another
Mentoring programs
Adapted From Gale and Parker, “A typology of student transition in higher education”, 2014

7. What aspects of the transition from school to HE do students find difficult?
Academic challenges - Learning in new ways, less support
Personal and social challenges - Making friends, finding accommodation
Administrative challenges - Student finance
Geographical challenges - Making sense of place (Adapted from Nottingham University “Transition guide”)

8. What can we do to support student transitions?

9. Four strategies for supporting student transitions
Supporting academic challenges
Supporting social challenges
Supporting cross-sectional challenges
1. Subject enrichment: students research a topic of interest for their personal statements
3. Near peer engagement
Use of alumni sessions structured around key challenges
4. Primer and debrief sessions for campus visits
2. Modifying existing IAG Include: (i) different styles of HE learning (ii) structured exploration of modules