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ERIC Number: ED558583
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Mar
Pages: 110
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: 978-0-9922-9748-0
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The First Year Experience in Australian Universities: Findings from Two Decades, 1994-­2014
Baik, Chi; Naylor, Ryan; Arkoudis, Sophie
Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education
This report provides an analysis of trends over a twenty year period in the attitudes and experiences of first year students in Australian universities. It is based on the national survey of first year students undertaken by the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education at five-yearly intervals since 1994. Dramatic changes have taken place in the Australian higher education sector since the last First Year Experience Study in 2009. The student body has continued to diversify with the introduction of the demand driven funding system and the provision of government funding to increase the inclusion and support of students from under-represented groups. Advances in technology, among other trends, have continued to alter the modes of student participation, the structures of course delivery, and relationships between students and teachers. The first year students in 2014 were generally very positive in outlook, significantly more positive than first year students surveyed in the past two decades. Most students were clear about their reasons for going to university, had a strong sense of purpose and identity, were excited to be at university, and were very satisfied with their course experience. Students in 2014 were also better prepared for the transition to university than students in previous studies. Concerted efforts to improve the links between school and university have had positive effect, as school leavers in 2014 report feeling better prepared to choose a course, and believe the final year of school prepared them well for university. The gap between school and university identified in earlier surveys has been narrowed considerably. However, while students in 2014 had a stronger sense of purpose and a smoother transition to university life than students surveyed in the past, they were less socially engaged in the university community, spent less time on campus, and more students tended to keep to themselves. For a significant proportion of students (approximately 30%), getting motivated and coping with university study remains challenging. The following are appended: (1) Survey method and data analysis; (2) Survey respondents across institutions, 1994-­2014; (3) Statistical analyses; and (4) Glossary of Terms.
Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education. Building 134, Spencer Road, The University of Melbourne VIC 3010e. Tel: + 61-3-8344-4605; e-mail: melbourne-cshe@unimelb.edu.au; Web site: http://melbourne-cshe.unimelb.edu.au
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: University of Melbourne (Australia), Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE)
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A