ulster.ac.uk Under the bonnet…interventions for a course level student retention strategy. Nikki McQuillan Ursula Quinn
BSc International Hospitality Management Attrition: reduce from 14.5% to 7.7% Focus - Enhance the student experience.
Why do Students leave our course?
Combination of theory and practice based learning Involves direct contact with service users by week 2 Kitchen brigade and service encounters 4-5 days in University – implications for work and study balance 1 of 7 UK Universities Campus in construction The odd ones out ? Minority subject on “arts” campus
How much do we already know about our attrition statistics? January 2015 began to do some preliminary analysis of attrition data from past 5 years Predominantly “local” female students Significant proportion are widening participation students Main reason for leaving, “course not what I expected” Some evidence that recent interventions are effective
Could attrition “cases” have been avoided ? Annual Subject Monitoring plan builds on previous year’s data Retention always a key metric and focus Change of course management Recognition and acceptance that improvements can be made Towards developing a retention strategy
10 Retention Strategies BSc International Hospitality Management Ulster University Business School
1. Enhanced first year induction…focus on socialisation and belonging..
2. 1 st Year attendance tutor
3. Attendance Monitoring System
4. Student employability conference
5. HEAT Society
6. Student Peer Mentoring
7. 1st Year transition focus groups
8. Pre-Induction Event
9. Personal Tutor Policy
10. Virtual Academy Restaurant App… Digital Learning Support Tool.
What is University like…?
A day in your life in the Academy Kitchen…
Virtual Academy App Link restaurant/id ?ls=1&mt=8https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/virtual-academy- restaurant/id ?ls=1&mt=8
Are we there yet? Cross faculty working group set up to establish “what works”. There is some encouraging evidence of improvement in retention. Emphasis on getting key pre entry messages to students about course content (Interviews). Classify data better in future to take account of reasons for withdrawal from studies. Embark on research with other “similar” institutions