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Expectations of A-Level and BTEC students on entry to university and the impact of Covid19

christopherpatrick25

Updated: Dec 3, 2023

Those interested in the student experience may be interested in a new national report, published today and hosted on the AdvanceHE website, which draws upon a Bournemouth University dataset. I was one of the experts invited contribute a commentary - my work explores the digital implications of the report. There is a symposium planned for February next year to take the work forward.

Prior learning experience, study expectations of A-Level and BTEC students on entry to university and the impact of Covid19

This report, authored by Dr. Michelle Morgan and published by the OIE, investigates and compares the prior learning experiences, impact of Covid19 and expectations of A-Level and BTEC students on entry to university across two surveys undertaken between 2019 and 2021.

The participating UK-based institutions were the Universities of Bournemouth (2019), Leeds Beckett and East London (2021). Data was collected via the pre-arrival academic questionnaire.

There are a number of key observations arising from this report that have practical, strategic and policy implications. There is consistency in many of the findings across the surveys undertaken in 2019 and 2021 between those respondents holding only A-Levels and only BTEC as their highest entry qualification. The differences highlighted will affect the level of engagement, sense of belonging, retention and success, and will further be exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis.  The findings in this report provides:

  • Data that underpins university student aspirations, progression, retention and achievement.

  • A deep dive into aspects of data that impact on particular higher education institutions demographic and contextual issues.

  • A guide for staff for within those HEIs to help inform policy and strategic interventions that can support and engage students.

  • Commentaries by leaders and experts in the field providing suggestions and advice on the way forward for the sector.

Link to the full report here:


More about Michelle:

Dr Michelle Morgan is a national and internationally recognised Student Experience Transitions Specialist across all levels of study and is extensively published in the area. She is currently Dean of Students at the University of East London. Michelle is a Principal Fellow of the HEA, Fellow of the AUA , an elected council member of UKCGE and Student Minds Mental Health Charter Assessor. During her varied career, Michelle has been a faculty manager, lecturer, researcher and academic manager. She describes herself as a ‘Third Space Integrated Student Experience Practitioner’ who develops initiatives based on pragmatic and practical research. Michelle has over 50 publications and has presented over 100 national and international conference papers (including 58 keynotes and 35 invited papers). She has developed a free portal for staff which provides a range of information and links for anyone interested in improving the student experience in higher education. www.improvingthestudentexperience.com


Debbie is the Professor of Learning Innovation in the Department of Nursing Sciences, and researches as part of the Nurses for Long Term Health and CEMP Research Centres. You can follow her on X (formerly twitter) @debbieholley1 and the research centres  @N4LTH and @CEMP_BU

 

Twitter @debbieholley1

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