Student Retention and Progression
It is very difficult to obtain accurate figures for retention of students not least because the definition of what constitutes retention varies. HEFCE produces performance indicators for non-continuation following year of entry. These show that for young entrants (aged 18 -25) in engineering and technology, non-continuation figures are one or two percentage points higher than the average for all subjects.
After making the assumption that most institutions will respond to the question “do you want to improve retention” with a resounding “yes”, below is a list of resources which should offer support to address this issue.
The FDTL project PROGRESS focussed at engineering student retention and progression and has produced a series of guides to learning and teaching practices which can help to imporve student retention.
We also encourage you to look within their your own university for guidelines regarding, focus, strategy and implementation of student retention.
Our resource database currently contains 54 resources in the student retention section, listed in summary form below. To view the full descriptive record for each resource click the '[View full description/Comments] ' link after the title.
To search within the listed descriptions use the search box below.
Full list of 54 resources from the student retention section listed below.
Engineering outreach : a guide to working with schools
[View full description/Comments]
This Engineering Subject Centre guide (supported by the Engineering Professors' Council) is primarily intended for academics in HE engineering departments in the UK who are interested in student recruitment, widening participation and the promotion of engineering to a wider audience. Advice is given within the guide on issues that need to be considered when planning outreach, such as funding, evaluation and legislation. The guide identifies possible outreach activities that a department might wish to consider and provides a background to the current education system in the UK; with these insights,
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Author(s): Dr Sarah Bamforth
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/outreach.pdf
Engineering Subject Centre Mini-Project : the application of computer algebra software in the teaching of Engineering Mathematics
[View full description/Comments]
This is the case study for a completed Mini-Project, which was one of the phase 3 Mini-Projects funded by LTSN Engineering (now the Engineering Subject Centre). Chris Rielly, Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, was awarded funding from July 2003 to June 2004. The project investigated the use of computer algebra software in the teaching of maths to a mixed ability class of first-year Chemical Engineers. The aim was to improve student achievement and understanding in maths, whilst introducing them to a useful tool that can be applied in other contexts throughout the course. Related work
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Author(s): Prof. Chris Rielly
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/miniproject/maple.pdf
Engineering Subject Centre Mini-Project Report : Improving student success and retention through greater participation and tackling student-unique tutorial sheets
[View full description/Comments]
This Engineering Subject Centre Mini-Project Report is about a Computer Assisted Assessment (CAA) programme trialled at the University of Hertfordshire. The report discusses how the programme developed, delivered, collected, marked and provided feedback for the weekly-assessed tasks (wats) of individual students and how this influenced student success.
Author(s): Mark Russell, Peter Bullen
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/wats_tutorialsheetsw…
Engineering Subject Centre Teaching Awards : Design, build, test, float, fly and race – the School of Engineering Sciences induction week
[View full description/Comments]
This case study has been developed as part of the Engineering Subject Centre Teaching Awards 2005-2006, from data gathered through a demonstration of the teaching and learning materials available, interviews with the tutor and a student focus group.
In order to provide a focus for students within induction week, the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Southampton introduced a group-based, hands-on design, build and test activity for all first year students. Prizes were awarded at the end of the week.
Author(s): Liz Willis, Kenji Takeda
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/awards/takeda.pdf
Awards:
HE Academy Engineering Subject Centre Teaching Awards - Finalist
Enhancing the first year experience for engineering students : Engineering Subject Centre teaching guide
[View full description/Comments]
This resource is part of a series of Engineering Subject Centre teaching guides aimed at the busy engineering academic. It aims to provide a starting point for those with responsibility for the recruitment and retention of first year engineering students and those who wish to contribute to enhancing the first year experience for their students. The guide comprises a brief introduction to a number of key areas in considering the first year experience for engineers, followed by a series of suggested questions to facilitate discussions and to inform further work or activity. The guide ends with a
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Author(s): Liz Willis
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/teaching-guides/first-year/
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/first-year.pdf
(downloadable pdf)
First year experience audit
Other title: Engineering Subject Centre first year experience audit tool
[View full description/Comments]
This audit tool has been developed by the Engineering Subject Centre, for use by academic teaching staff in their evaluation of the first year experience of engineering students. It has a brief introduction, followed by a compehensive listing of further reading, before proceeding into 12 sections covering the diverse aspects of the student experience. The tool also suggests useful reading material about retention and progression for tutors of students in subsequent years.
Author(s): Engineering Subject Centre (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/FirstYearExperienceAudit.pdf
Helping Everyone Learn Mathematices : Engineering Subject Centre Event
[View full description/Comments]
The Helping Everyone Learn Mathematics (HELM) Conference was held on the 14-15 September 2005 at Loughborough University and organised by the Subject Network of the Higher Education Academy. It appealed to a wide variety of disciplines for which mathematics is an important component. It comprised a combination of key-note speeches, plenary sessions, hands-on demonstrations, workshops, poster sessions and discipline specific discussion sessions and the presentations are available on the website.
Author(s): Higher Education Academy (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/nef/events/helmconf_programme.asp
Hybrid programmes in Engineering : Midlands regional event
[View full description/Comments]
This is the web page for an event held on 19 February 2003 at Coventry University. It provided an opportunity for delegates to raise their awareness of a number of hybrid engineering programmes (including their structure and the recruitment, retention and the employability of the students attracted to these types of courses), to share ideas on hybrid programmes and to network with other engineering academics with an interest in this area. The web page offers the presentations from the events.
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/nef/events/midlandsfeb03.asp
Learning and teaching support and resources for Engineers : LTSN Engineering event
[View full description/Comments]
This was a two-day event hosted by the LTSN Engineering on the 5-6 September 2002, at LTSN Engineering, Loughborough University. The aim was to identify existing practice in institutions across the U.K and provide a networking opportunity for all those with an interest in engineering education. The first day, aimed at engineering academics and support staff, provided an opportunity to discover good practice in the areas of supporting students and changing approaches towards learning and teaching.
The second day provided a showcase for many FDTL, TLTP and DfES funded engineering projects
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Author(s): LTSN Engineering (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/nef/events/ltrday2.asp
LTSN Engineering Workshop Series : enhancing the first year experience
[View full description/Comments]
This workshop series raised the question of whether student retention and progression was an issue within departments and whether participants would like retention and progression rates to be better.
LTSN Engineering (now the Engineering Subject Centre) hosted workshops in 2004. These aimed to give participants ideas and resources to help enhance provision in their department and to enhance the first year experience of their students. The web page provides the presentations from the workshops and downloads of the series.
Author(s): LTSN Engineering (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/nef/events/first_year_experience.asp
Personal tutoring : Engineering Subject Centre teaching guide
[View full description/Comments]
This resource is part of a series of Engineering Subject Centre teaching guides aimed at the busy engineering academic. This booklet takes a pragmatic approach and is aimed at those organising personal tutor systems and engineering academics who want more information
about how to effectively fulfil a pastoral care role. A number of issues related to personal tutoring are presented. Alternative models of personal tutoring, the type of support needed and the student expectations of that support are considered along with identification
of students at risk. Staff development and training
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Author(s): Elaine M. Smith
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/teaching-guides/personal/
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/personal-tutoring.pd…
(downloadable pdf)
Putting Engineering first and mathematics second in Engineering education
[View full description/Comments]
This report was funded as an LTSN Engineering Mini-Project: 'Minimal-mathematics introduction to engineering'. The project sought to collate, develop and disseminate new ways of teaching engineering topics to mathematically-deficient new students. The Mini-Project funding enabled the development of a guidebook to equip engineering lecturers with new material that enables them to approach some of the introductory engineering topics and principles in a way that puts engineering first and mathematics second without lowering standards.
Author(s): Dr Ifiok Otung
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/maths_report.pdf
Student retention and progression : Engineering Subject Centre web page
[View full description/Comments]
This web page on the Engineering Subject Centre site provides a collection of links to information, case studies and existing practice on student retention and progression.
Author(s): Engineering Subject Centre (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/er/retention/index.asp
Addressing the student dropout rate in engineering through induction of students with interactive gaming
[View full description/Comments]
This Engineering Subject Centre case study presents an interactive student game used at the University of Ulster, designed to provide new students with information that will help them settle more effectively into university. It addresses the themes of student retention and induction.
Author(s): Kevin Curran, Kieran Forbes
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/interactive-gaming.pdf
The first year experience in higher education in the UK : report on phase 1 of a project funded by the Higher Education Academy
[View full description/Comments]
This is the report of a study carried out in 2006 for the Higher Education Academy. It is the first major UK study of students’ first-year experiences in higher education. Over 7,000 students were surveyed on their experiences of learning, teaching and assessment, and on other aspects of their first-year experience such as travel, finance and social life. The study aimed to find out what aspects of the student experience may affect students’ decision to withdraw from their studies.
The next phase of the survey will focus on students who have not returned to their second
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Author(s): Prof. Mantz Yorke, Bernard Longden
URL(s):
• http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/ourwork/research/web…
Widening Participation Research Service (WPRS)
[View full description/Comments]
These are the web pages of the Widening Participation Research Service (WPRS) from the Higher Education Academy. The service offers support to all staff in higher education with a widening participation remit. It provides access to research information, services and resources thereby supporting the embedding of diversity and widening participation across the student life cycle.
Author(s): The Higher Education Academy (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/institutions/wp/wprs
Balance Project : promoting SET in schools resource pack
[View full description/Comments]
This Resource Pack has been designed to be used by those new to organising events with schools. It has been developed using experiences gathered from engineering departments in universities that actively undertake outreach work and includes checklists, example activities and sample documents to aid successful events.
The Balance Project was founded in 2000 with funds from FDTL to 'gather, disseminate and embed exisitng good practice in developing methodologies to generate an engineering community into which more balanced numbers of women and men are attracted, recruited and retained'. The
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Author(s): Balance Project (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/Balance/balance_resources_files…
Case study of Mathwise Pre-Calculus
[View full description/Comments]
This brief case study describes the use of Mathwise Pre Calculus CALGroup to teach mathematics to first year engineering students, many of whom have low A-level grades in mathematics or no A-level mathematics. The case study examines both the students' and the lecturer's opinions of whether the software helped the learning and teaching of this topic.
Author(s): Ms Christine Hirst
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/resources/?restype=swc&keyid=75
LTSN Engineering and PROGRESS project workshop : improving retention through mathematics support
[View full description/Comments]
This web page describes a one-day workshop on 17 December 2003, in Woburn House, London run by LTSN Engineering and the PROGRESS Project. The PROGRESS Project was an FDTL3 funded project aimed at improving levels of student success in Higher Education programmes of study in electrical and electronic engineering. The workshop enabled delegates to learn more about practical intervention strategies that are in place to support 'at-risk' students and raised awareness of the materials that are available to help their students directly. Delegates received copies of two guides books which may be downloaded
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URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/nef/events/progress.asp
The role of pre entry practices and induction strategies in relation to student retention
Other title: Progress Project Strategy Guide
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable throughout all engineering disciplines. This workbook - one of the practical guides - will help staff interested in, ot involved
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Author(s): Dr Sarah Shobrook
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/progress/shobrook.pdf
Action on Access : the National Co-ordination Team for Widening Participation
[View full description/Comments]
This is the website of Action on Access, the national co-ordination team for widening participation in higher education, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and Northern Ireland's Department for Employment and Learning. The team work with institutions and partnerships, including Aimhigher, providing advice, information and support to their widening participation activities, strategies and plans.
Author(s): Action on Access Team (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.actiononaccess.org/index.php?p=1
Engineering go for it!
[View full description/Comments]
'Engineering, Go For It!' is a guide to a career in Engineering and Technology from the American Society of Engineers. It is designed to attract (U.S.A.) high school students and their parents and teachers to the world of engineering and technology. It is also suitable for UK students who are interested in studying Engineering in the U.S.A. The guide is published every two years.
URL(s):
• http://www.engineering-goforit.com/
Engineering UK
Other title: Engineering UK : a statistical guide to labour supply and demand in Engineering and Technology
[View full description/Comments]
This is the web page of the annual statistical guide, 'Engineering UK', which has replaced the 'Digest of Engineering Statistics'. It looks at the supply and demand of labour in engineering and technology and considers routes into engineering, particularly science and mathematics. The guide includes a review of statistics relating to mathematics and science within UK schools. It considers vocational routes to engineering; Further Education and Work Based Learning; Higher Education courses; graduate destinations six months after university, information on engineering salaries and professional
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Author(s): Engineering UK (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engineeringuk.com/what_we_do/education_&_research/eng…
Engineering UK 2008: etb report
[View full description/Comments]
The statistical guide, 'Engineering UK 2008', which replaced the 'Digest of Engineering Statistics', looks at the supply and demand of labour in engineering and technology and considers routes into engineering. It considers vocational routes to engineering; Further Education and Work Based Learning; Higher Education courses; graduate destinations six months after university, information on engineering salaries and professional registration.
Author(s): Engineering and Technology Board (etb) (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.etechb.co.uk/research/engineering_uk.cfm
Engineers for the future : addressing the supply and quality of Australian engineering graduates for the 21st century : summary and recommendations
[View full description/Comments]
This report contains a summary of findings and recommendations from the Engineers for the Future report. This was an outcome of a project led by the Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) "to address the supply and quality of Australian engineering graduates for the new century", with support from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, AaeE, Engineers Australia and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).
Author(s): Robin King
URL(s):
• http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/shadomx/apps/fms/fmsdownloa…
Helping Engineers Learn Mathematics (HELM)
[View full description/Comments]
The HELM project was an attempt to ensure that the Engineering Council [UK]'s requirements continued to be met at a time when many undergraduates entering university to study engineering perhaps lacked the basic skills and aptitude which could be relied upon in the past.
The project was supported by a HEFCE- FDTL4 grant 2002 - 2005 with transferability funding until July 2006 . The project was consortium-based and managed from Loughborough University. Outputs from the project include workbooks, case studies, computer aided assessment (CAA) for all topics and illustrative computer aided
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URL(s):
• http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/helm/
Key skills for progression
Other title: PROGRESS Project Strategy Guide:
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable throughout all engineering disciplines.
This guide provides a "toolkit" of eight documented techniques that
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Author(s): Samir Parikh
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/progress/parikh.pdf
Methodologies for improving student progression in engineering
Other title: Progress Project Strategy Guide
[View full description/Comments]
This is an overview and discussion arising from the PROGRESS FDTL3 Project, which set out to examine the causes of poor progression rates among Engineering undergraduates in the UK, and to research and disseminate pragmatic remedial strategies.
Author(s): Dr Susan H Pulko, Gavin Cutler
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/progress/methodology.pdf
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
[View full description/Comments]
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) is a student-to-student support scheme for academic and personal development. The Peer Assisted Learning Project was based at Bournemouth University and PAL is now being delivered across most undergraduate programmes in 5 of the university's schools. With the support of Transferabilty Funding from HEFCE the project team are now working with Buckinghamshire Chiltern and Plymouth Universities to further dissemniate PAL.
Author(s): PAL project team (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.peerlearning.ac.uk/
PROGRESS
Other title: Improving Student Progression and Achievement
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced conference proceedings and a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable to all engineering disciplines.
Author(s): Progress project team (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/
PROGRESS Project Strategy Guide : a blue-print for pastoral care
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable throughout all engineering disciplines.
This booklet is concerned with aspects of student welfare in UK universities
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Author(s): Prof. Donard de Cogan
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/Donard.pdf
PROGRESS Project strategy guide : assessment strategies and progression
[View full description/Comments]
This guide offers strategies that represent local solutions to local problems. It is concerned with looking at the background theory supporting change and revisiting effective strategies relating to assessment.
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Progress produced a series
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Author(s): John W. K. Rowe
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/Rowe.pdf
PROGRESS Project Strategy Guide : communication for retention
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable throughout all engineering disciplines.
This case study in student tracking and intervention reports briefly on the
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Author(s): Mr Walter Middleton
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/Walter1.pdf
PROGRESS Project strategy guide : design to progress
[View full description/Comments]
Engineering faculties throughout the United Kingdom have increasingly voiced concern over their ability to satisfy the national demand for engineers educated to the level of professionalism required. This PROGRESS guide reports on a follow up survey to investigate interventions in the teaching of design and to assess their impact, and it also reports on a review of the literature.
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities.
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Author(s): Dr Norrie S. Edward
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/NorrieGuide.pdf
PROGRESS project strategy guide : formative assessment for progression
[View full description/Comments]
This is a mini-guide to formative assessment strategies. It highlights the importance of early feedback to both student and lecturer on the level of understanding of the material. It also provides formative assessment case studies used by different universities.
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student
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Author(s): Dr Steve Littlewood
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/LittlewoodFA.pdf
PROGRESS Project Strategy Guide : Mathematics Strategies for Engineering : a Review
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable throughout all engineering disciplines.
Fifteen institutions took part in this review of strategies employed to assist
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Author(s): Dr Edward Reed
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/Edward.pdf
PROGRESS Project Strategy Guide : Multi-media Support for Mathematics Learning
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable throughout all engineering disciplines.
This guidebook outlines the maths problems in engineering and physical sciences
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Author(s): Dr Jim Stevenson, Dr David Saunders
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/EBSguide.pdf
PROGRESS Project Strategy Guide : PDP for Progression in Engineering
[View full description/Comments]
PROGRESS was a FDTL Phase 3 project based in the Engineering Department at the University of Hull, in collaboration with a consortium from Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Metropolitan, Brunel and East Anglia Universities. PROGRESS aimed to assist academics delivering courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in enhancing student progression and achievement. Within this broad aim Progress produced a series of case studies/educator guides that are applicable throughout all engineering disciplines.
This guide book was co-authored by a group of academics who have identified
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Author(s): Elaine M Smith (Corporate Author), Barry Beggs, Alan Robinson
URL(s):
• http://www.hull.ac.uk/engprogress/Prog3Papers/PDPGuide.pdf
Public attitudes to and perceptions of engineering and engineers 2007 : a study commissioned by The Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering and Technology Board
[View full description/Comments]
Quality enhancement themes : the first year experience : personalisation of the first year
[View full description/Comments]
This report (QAA 222 03/08) forms part of the Enhancing Practice Quality Enhancement themes and looks at the personalisation of the first year. It discusses the concept of personalisation, reviews literature and includes practice and case studies.
Author(s): Dr Hazel Knox, Ms Janette Wyper
URL(s):
• http://www.enhancementthemes.ac.uk/documents/firstyear/Personali…
Rebuilding the UK economy : changing perceptions of engineering
[View full description/Comments]
'Rebuilding the UK Economy: Changing Perceptions of Engineering' is a research summary paper of the year’s Engineers and Engineering Brand Monitor (EEBM), which shows a marked increase in the perceived desirability of the engineering profession among the general public and educators. It finds that this view has not successfully filtered down to the under 24s and looks at possible ways of resolving this using the influence of parents and guardians.
Author(s): etb (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.etechb.co.uk/_db/_documents/Rebuilding_the_UK_Economy…
Scenta
[View full description/Comments]
This is the website of scenta, an organisation set up by The Engineering and Technology Board (the etb), to work with leaders in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) community to provide a gateway to information and resources for those following a career in STEM. Scenta aggregates initiatives, provides a suite of technologies, and acts a meeting point for those involved in STEM.
Author(s): Scenta (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.scenta.co.uk/
Shape the future [Royal Academy of Engineering]
[View full description/Comments]
This is the website of Shape the Future, a campaign to raise awareness and promote engineering and technology as a career option. It aims to enhance the perception of engineering among young people, encourage schools to take part in hands-on activites and bring a coherence to promoting engineering in schools. Though the focus is 10-14 year olds, the campaign is of general relevant to higher education recruitment and admissions.
Author(s): Royal Academy of Engineering (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.shapethefuture.org.uk/
SPAT materials and guides
Other title: Student progression and transfer
[View full description/Comments]
SPAT (Student Progression and Transfer) was an FDTL 3 project based at the University of Plymouth. The SPAT guide provides a range of teaching and learning resources for staff involved with the transfer of students across institutions and with the progression of students onto top-up degree programmes. The guides are targeted at lecturers in HE or FE, and also academic support staff such as library, IT, careers and admissions staff. There are seven 'packs' within the guide. Each pack deals with a different topic e.g. key skills, induction, culture shift. In addition the site offers a number of
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Author(s): SPAT project team (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/er/retention/spatindex.asp
Staying or leaving the course : non-completion and retention of mature students in further and higher education
(Ed./Ver: 2nd edition)
[View full description/Comments]
'Staying or Leaving the Course' explores retention and non-completion rates in further and higher education. It considers the implications of having an expanding and more diverse student population resulting from widening participation policies. The author investigates the scale and nature of mature student withdrawal and explores the reasons behind it. The final section outlines strategies for dealing with the common causes of withdrawal and for improving retention.
Author(s): Veronica McGivney
URL(s):
• http://archive.niace.org.uk/information/Briefing_sheets/Drop_Out…
Student retention and HEFCE performance indicators : discussion paper
[View full description/Comments]
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) first produced its Performance Indicator (PI) tables in December 1999 to provide information on the nature and performance of the UK HE sector. This paper looks at findings after five years, and considers how support for HEIs in measuring and monitoring performance might be improved. It also looks at patterns of recruitment and retention, and policy issues about collection and presentation.
Author(s): Action on Access (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.actiononaccess.org/download.php?f=205
Student Transition and Retention (STAR) project
[View full description/Comments]
Student Transition and Retention (STAR) was an FDTL 4 project led by the University of Ulster that began in 2003. The project aimed to
· a) identify the purpose of induction and introductory activities;
· b) identify good practice;
· c) disseminate this good practice through publications a website and workshops;
· d) promote innovation through a phase of project funding; and
· e) monitor the impact of changed practices.
The website contains a number of retention resources including induction guidelines, exemplar guidebooks and case
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Author(s): STAR project team (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.ulst.ac.uk/star/
Studying STEM: what are the barriers? A literature review of the choices students make
[View full description/Comments]
This is a review commissioned by the IET to identify the most common reasons and barriers as to why there is a decline in the take up of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects among post-16 year olds.
Author(s): Dr Lyn Hayes
URL(s):
• http://www.theiet.org/stem
The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth
Other title: Higher Education : applications, acceptances and completions (Briefing paper August 2008)
[View full description/Comments]
This is an Engineering and Technology Board (etb) briefing paper. It provides an analysis of student numbers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects from data gathered annually by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) over the past five years. There is a particular focus on engineering in the paper.
Author(s): ETB (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.etechb.co.uk/_db/_documents/UCAS_Paper_-_Page_per_vie…
The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme (UAS)
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This is the website of The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme (UAS), which provides university departments with a framework for a classroom-based degree module awarding academic credit to science, technology, engineering and mathematics undergraduates working with teachers in local schools.
URL(s):
• http://www.uas.ac.uk/
Women in Engineering Organization : why choose engineering?
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This is the website for The Women in Engineering Organization (WIEO), created to encourage more women to join the engineering industry. It is based at Tufts University, USA. The site has sections for school children, students, university faculty and women in industry. This web page addresses the question 'Why choose engineering?' and includes links to further reading and information.
URL(s):
• http://www.ieee.org/web/membership/women/index.html
