Engaging New Students

Through an Extended
‘Induction’ Process

Heather Farley
Dr Alison Hampton
Background
 Transition from secondary to tertiary education
can be difficult & may not be a continuous,
linear progression
 We need to:
- Ensure compatibility between changing
(rising?) student expectations & their actual
experience (Cook, Rushton, et al, 2005)
- Develop effective two way communication
with ‘stakeholders’ …
- Understand what motivates the ’21st Century
Student’ (Redmond, 2008)
Today’s ‘Generation Y’ Student
(Redmond, 2008)
 ‘Workers with attitude’ who will challenge & are
quick to judge ‘value’
 Digital Natives who are connected 24-7
 Unprecedented parental support & involvement -
‘helicopter parents’
 Attendance/punctuality is always optional
 ‘Work’ is the Apprentice & Dragons Den
 WLB is more than a buzz word
 Image or brand matters
 Motivated by mentors/coaches & not
bosses/superiors
Current Drivers
 Student Transition & Retention research, data & activity
(Cook et al, 2007)
 External Audit: QAA, NSS, …
 Internal Policy: University 1st year retention policy; UBS
1st year retention and attendance monitoring & support
strategies; Faculty Working Group on 1st year
experience
 The Stakeholders themselves: students, tutors, parents,
school teachers, …
Current ‘Retention’ Figures (based on
‘Success 1’ data…
2006/07 2007/08

Ulster Business 89% 92%

School
University Average 87% 90%

Marketing, 83% 94%

Entrepreneurship &
Strategy (MES)
Retention Targets 88% (2008/09) 92% (2009/10)
for MES
What is ‘Induction’ Nowadays?
 An ongoing process or ‘student journey’
(Cooper, 2007)
 Encompasses a number of stages:
- Pre-entry &/or Application stage
- ‘Front end’ Induction
- ‘Ongoing’ Curriculum Development
(including aspects such as provision of formative
feedback & attendance monitoring)
- Onward Progression … with ...
- Staff Development activity to support
What is ‘Induction’ ctd?
 Incorporates a number of aspects of
student interaction:

- Academic
Need to
- Personal get the
balance
- Social right

- Vocational
 Pre-entry / Application Stage
 Greater involvement re. school visits

 Tailored session for BSc (Hons)

Marketing during Open Week
- Mini Marketing Activity

 Parent & Student evening (CI/CF

event)
‘Front end’ Induction
 Year 1 Tutor role – first point of
contact
 Social Networking Site (confirmed
places in August are invited to join
Bebo):
- Virtual Tour of campus includes
facilities and car parking
- Links students pre-induction & beyond
- Gives an insight into the ‘individual’
student
 ‘Front end’ Induction ctd…
 Induction – over 2 days in week 0
 Minimum requirements
 Informal with interactive sessions
- Ice Breakers: Speed Intro’s
- Team Building: Lost
- Orientation of Campus: Treasure Hunt
- Expectations workshop: Lecturers vs students
 ‘A day in the life of a 1st year student’ competition
(UBS)
 Quiz … ‘Dinner with the Dean’!
Induction feedback from the students…..
 “The activities at induction were very good. The
orientation task which our group really got into was fun
and allowed us to find rooms”

 “The first day was very long…the people who came to

speak to us were good and friendly but it was a lot to
take in”

 “I enjoyed the induction tasks and it was good being

split into smaller groups because no-one else from my
school was doing my course – so it was a bit scary at
the start”
Ongoing Curriculum Development
 Maximum 15 students per seminar group
 Seminars start in week 1
 Small group seminar tutor = Studies Adviser
 Formative feedback given by week 6
 Attendance monitoring & interviews
(support mechanism)
 Use of Turning Point technology
 Vocational activity (Personal Employability
Skills module; WBL; PDP)
And What Next?
 More ‘connectivity’ & integration between different
activities / stages / tutors
 Continued use of data & evaluation, to:
- monitor & evaluate what is done
- inform what happens next
 Focus a little more on the ‘student voice’
 Look further at ‘induction’ activity beyond year 1/the
new entrant … develop ‘independent learners’