Since 2004, Aston University has been delivering work-based learning (WBL) engineering degrees to key UK Energy sector employers, such as National Grid. National measures for widening participation in HE, such as the Degree Apprenticeship Levy, have led to significant changes in learning background diversity of WBL cohorts, consequently increasing…

This paper explores whether students' learning outcomes can be improved through the use of self-assessment rubrics. Students on a computer programming module in a Higher Education Institution were required to complete a self-assessment using the same rubric as the assessors. Observing discrepancies between the grades the students were receiving,…

The UK will need a skilled IT work force to maintain its position as a world leader in computing research and development. This study investigated the experience of learning communities amongst first year undergraduate computing students at a UK university. The concept of a learning community was used to examine its influence on student academic…

This investigation explored students' learning behaviour from three different disciplines in relation to the student personal device usage in a lecture theatre environment and its impact on learning and academic performance. 163 Psychology, 253 Life Sciences and 83 Veterinary Science students participated in this study by completing a…

We present data that may not only provide direction to those who are interested in developing a measure of learning gain, but also provide a route for those wishing to directly enhance student performance through gainful learning. Richardson found that student performance showed moderate correlations with only three self-regulatory variables…

Learning gain is a politicised concept within contemporary HE, and as such has been aligned with agendas of teaching excellence and learning outcomes but the extent to which it captures actual learning has yet to be clarified. Here, we report the outcomes of a learning gain study which examines how students' knowledge, skills and experiences as…

Researchers examining academic success often quantify it in terms of assessment grades. This assumption is questioned here by considering the students' understanding of academic success. The presented study aimed to identify students' views of its definition and the factors they perceive as crucial in attaining it. Sixteen undergraduate Psychology…

Research examining the links between Mental Toughness, Positive and Negative Affect and Academic Success was presented at the Annual Higher Education STEM Conference (HEA STEM). The results indicated that undergraduate students of psychology (n = 141) showed a positive correlation between Control of Life (a component of Mental Toughness) and…

This study evaluates the impact of undergraduate research on student achievement. It analyses graduating students from 2012 to 2016 at a UK university that requires a research project comprising 25% of final-year credits in most subjects, providing a sample of over 5000 students across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. It…