Student Success across the Transition

Luke Millard (Abertay University)

Monday, April 7, 2025 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

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Session Outline

This session will report on a QAA Scotland project that is bringing two partners, Dundee and Angus College and Abertay University together to systematically and procedurally review how students are enabled to succeed as they prepare for and transition from college into and through university.

To enable students to be successful there needs to be greater cohesion and alignment across the educational sectors as to how that individual student is prepared to succeed and learn as they transition. Through the new Scottish Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework all colleges and universities will be reviewed to see how they are working together to enable that success.

This QAA pilot project is challenging the two partners to identify and remove the intended and unintended barriers that might persuade the less confident student that the next stage of their learning journey is not for them. The locus for review is from enrolment to student services to students' unions and curriculum alignment. Clear guidance and advice is key, as well as the way in which setting student expectations are set and delivered.

“Are we understanding of the challenges and obstacles that students face today, and do we see these challenges not as reflecting students’ deficits, but as reflecting the deficits of our institutions……” (McNair et al 2016:81 )

The distinctiveness of Universities, Colleges and Schools may be seen as important for those sectors, but the lack of alignment and understanding between them continue to hinder student navigation and progress. The minimum student expectation should be that they will be prepared by each sector as they transition into the next one. This requires the university and college to work together before and after the transition of the student and to align advice and processes that mean that the journey is seen as possible or even 'normal'.

The session will report on progress, share the challenges and seek input around what has not been asked or challenged from a student or institutional perspective. In particular, it will consider the role of student services, academic advising and students' associations as the partners have initiated institutional changes that address transitional senses of community and the personalisation of support and opportunity.

Learning Outcomes

Better understand the barriers to successful student transitions.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot project proposals and make alternate suggestions that could be investigated.

Consider whether you would wish to be part of and what you might contribute to any future developments with the partners.

Bibliography

Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success. Tia Brown McNair, Susan Albertine, et al. July 2022

Reflections on 15 years of Working in Student Partnerships: Successes, Challenges and the Future Possibilities. Millard, L. and Blackwell-Young, J. 10th anniversary special issue. Academic practice at the edge: risks and rewards of innovation in learning, teaching, and the student experience. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice. Vol. 11 no. 3 (2023)

Designing Personalized Student Development through Microcredentials: An Institutional Approach. Millard, L. Blackwell-Young, J. and Hogan, J. Chapter within Perspectives on Enhancing Student Transition into Higher Education and Beyond. Willison, D. and Henderson, IGI Global, 2023

Competencies
This session addresses the following competencies of the UKAT Professional Framework for Advising and Tutoring