Transitions from FE to HE: supporting transferring students Margaret Downie, Senior Lecturer Robert Gordon University and Robert Craigmyle, North East Scotland College.

Research questions What are the influences on students who choose to attend college rather than University? What are the fears and hopes of students transferring from further education college to higher education? What interventions can be put in place to ensure successful transfer of such students?

Methods 10 students Semi structured interviews Open ended questions Self selected sample Recorded and transcribed

Why did you go to college? “I have always been interested in law” “I realised the kind of lifestyle I would have had if I didn’t start studying” The articulation route was “a huge, huge plus” “I have tried Uni before and I failed.”

The articulation route –stepping stone "I decided to dip my toes in with college and see if it is for me " "especially for someone like myself who was unsure about what they wanted to do” " at the moment two years is as much as we can commit"

How was your experience of college? “College was amazing I can’t really have any sort of complaint about College because it was all really, really good.” "there is genuinely nothing I didn't like about college. I really liked college” “I started believing in myself because of this course as it really improved my confidence.”

How do you feel about transferring ? Mixed emotions "I've no qualms about it at all" "I feel excited, and a little bit nervous" "it's going to be challenging and I like a challenge"

How do you feel about transferring ? Fears and Apprehensions Workload Standard of Work Time management Class sizes Getting lost

How do you feel about transferring ? Worried about loss of relationship with staff and loss of support “I don’t think the lecturers will personally know you here and I don’t think you’ll get as much one on one time with them and I don’t think they’ll be as easy to get a hold of if you need help with something” Looking forward to freedom

Did college prepare you for university? “I think that there should be a little bit less of, I call it copying and pasting from the book, I think there should be a little bit more your actual work.” “too much emphasis on the assessments, open book assessments and not enough emphasis on learning yourself in College.”

Views on the support measures in place Generally favourable but suggestions for improvement: Earlier visits from university staff More guidance on career options Some of the degree prep material was ”patronising” unnecessary because of their communications module Worried about getting lost on visit TIMETABLES !!!

Conclusions Students going to college suffer from similar issues as students transferring from school to university The articulation route is consider a stepping stone to university The route protects their investment and minimises risk

Conclusions The supportive environment at college boosts student’s confidence making the transfer to university less anxious College may be too supportive and they should be encouraged to be more independent and develop their independence and learner identity

Conclusions Both institutions should work together (with students) to put in place measures which will allow students to do this and to make the suggested improvements to the support measures already in place