CONFIDENT FUTURES: USING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TO DELIVER INSTITUTION-WIDE ENHANCEMENTS TO THE FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE VERONIQUE JOHNSTON ANNE MacNAB Student Affairs Napier University, Scotland

Context 16% Napier students drop out in their first year 9% students in Scotland drop out in their first year 2/3 first in family into higher education 1/2 UG’s aged over 21 1/3 3rd years are direct entrants from FE 14% Scotland lags behind rest of UK in global competitiveness Napier is a ‘new’ university

The Challenge is two-fold... Support the transition to higher education “many students have to come to terms with an approach to teaching and learning that is markedly different from their previous experience. The first year is one of re- orientation and some students manage this more successfully than others” Yorke & Longden (2008)

The Challenge is two-fold... and reduce the likelihood of comparative disadvantage being carried through education and into employment - which can lead to poorer career, promotion and life opportunities (Forsyth and Furlong, 2003)

Confident Futures Five key elements  Induction Day  Personal Development Units  Motivational Speakers  Web CT Portfolio  Confident Futures Website Resources

Focus upon the First Year Experience Engage with staff Q - what could Confident Futures offer for Napier staff? Delivery by specialist facilitators Q – who and why?

Focus upon the First Year Experience Alignment with Napier Strategic Objectives Q – what benefits are there in this? Improved student retention and social integration Q – What does ‘personal development’ offer?

Focus upon the First Year Experience Raised student ambition Q – why does it matter in first year and how does Confident Futures help?

If we did it again....? The dilemma of ‘volunteer’ v’s ‘conscript’ Contextualise, contextualise, contextualise! Potential to grow Adding to the PDP journey

Questions ?