Early departure from a tertiary bridging program: What can the institution do?

2013-07

Whannell, Robert

Whannell, Patricia

Bedford, Tasman

Conference Publication

en

Publication

Ako Aotearoa: The National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence

Wellington, New Zealand

une:1959.11/26701

This study examined the early departure of students between the ages of 18 and 25 years from an on-campus tertiary bridging program at a regional university. Participants comprised 20 students who had dropped out of the program within the first four weeks of study. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews, which examined the student experience and the reasons for departure. It was concluded that participants comprised two general groups: those who have no clearly defined long-term career goal prompting their attendance at university with an associated low level of commitment to university study, and those who were committed to completing a university degree, but for whom a change in circumstances prevented them from continuing. Participants indicated that attendance in the bridging program was a generally positive experience and that there was little that could have been done to prevent their departure. It was concluded that a certain level of early departure was inevitable in the tertiary bridging program. Where intervention was attempted, it should be addressed towards the development of long-term employment and career goals for which university study was an essential prerequisite.

link

Create and Collaborate: Proceedings of the inaugural Foundation and Bridging Educators New Zealand Conference, p. 1-14

9781927202586

9781927202579

1

14

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