1. |Date 27-09-2011 Efforts to increase student succes Walter Sisulu University 3rd International E-learning Conference Jan Folkert (J.F.) Deinum, PhD 1

2. Agenda ›The educational background in NL ›Problems with student success rates ›The solution (?): binding study advise ›Results ›Conditions to improve success rates ›Teaching quality ›How to move on?

3. 3 Tier structure 3 DEGREE STRUCTURE of the EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA SECONDARY EDUCATION THIRD CYCLE DOCTORAL PhD 4 years SECOND CYCLE MASTER Master’s degree 60 - 120 ECTS (1-2 years) FIRST CYCLE BACHELOR Bachelor’s degree 180 ECTS (3 years)

4. Study load in ECTS ›European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) ›60 ECTS is approx. 40 weeks x 40 hours/wk 3°3° DOCTOR 2 ° MASTER 1 ° BACHELOR 2 ° 60 ECTS 3 ° 60 ECTS 1 ° 60 ECTS 2 ° semester 1 ° semester

5. Education – Facts (2010) ›58 Bachelor’s degree programmes ›114 Master’s degree programmes ›385 PhD dissertations ›8 International Bachelor’s degree programmes ›73 International Master’s degree programmes ›27,600 students 5,597 first year students ›4,897 staff 5,600 research publications

6. The problem ›In NL much freedom and flexibility for students: “academic” approach ›The idea is: as much opportunities as possible But ›Low number of bachelor graduates finish within 4 years after enrollment (nominal = 3 years) ›Lots of students take 6-7 years to complete their bachelor study ›High drop out rates, especially in first year (Baars, 2011) ›Medical faculty: 15% drop outs in first year ›Economics faculty: 40% drop outs in first year ›Solution: BSA, decreasing opportunities

7. What is a BSA ? ›Decision Faculty Board to expel a student from his bachelor degree program ›Rules >=40 ECTS (67%) credit points in first year 60 ECTS (100%) of first year program by end of 2nd year ›Culture change 60 ECTS is normal

8. BSA framework anchor Letter 1 Start Letter 2 Overview 1 Letter 3 First advice Letter 4 Overview 2 Letter 5 Decision datesep 2010dec 2010mar 2011may 2011aug 2011 year #57205606477247494702

9. Effect on study success (yr)

10. Earlier deregistration

11. Results ›More students more credits ›Less students with no credits ›Students deregister earlier

12. 27 Conditions ›Formal aspects (1) ›Academic year (2-6) ›Marking & registration period (7-12) ›Study counseling (13-18) ›Teaching, examination & QA (19-26) ›Information(27)

13. 27 Conditions - Formal 1.Rules >=40 ECTS (67%) credit points in first year 60 ECTS (100%) of first year program by end of 2nd year

14. 27 Conditions – Academic year 2.The academic year starts at the same time for all programs. In 2010-2011 that was on September 6. 3.The second semester starts at the same time for all programmes (February 7) 4.The second semester ends at the same time for all programmes (July 15) 5.All regular resit opportunities will take place before the end of the second semester. 6.The Binding Study Advice will be issued in the last week of July at the latest. Additional: Semesters are preferably divided in two blocks with equal load (maximum three courses) Resits must be scheduled shortly after the normal examination

15. 27 Conditions - Administration 7.Examination results must be sent latest 10th working day after examination 8.Student Administration Office will process all the examination results within 3 working days 9.Students get a written list of marks in teaching weeks 13 and 23. In week 45 they get the definitive advise 10.Quick acceptance of students who reach 40 ECTS (important for international students) 11.Quick withdrawal of students who can no achieve 40 ECTS 12.All discussions, advice and agreements regarding students must be recorded in a digital support system

16. 27 Conditions - Counseling 13.Integrated approach to tutoring 14.Lecturers also have duty to supervise students 15.Every first year student will be allocated a tutor/mentor 16.A minimum number of contact moments must be guaranteed (in sem 1: 1x2 weeks in groups) 17.Every degree program must have at least 1 professional study advisor. 18.Progress interviews with students must be registered Conditions: prompt respons by lecturers (e-mail: 2 working days, 3x/wk phone office hour)

17. 27 Conditions – Teaching & QA 19.The first year is representative for the full program 20.Programs must be evaluated 21.At least 12 contact hours a week 22.Balanced time table – no/little competition between courses/tests/activities 23.Quality of testing is guaranteed (when Analysis !!) 24.Assessment and testing must be transparant 25.Proper communication about timetable/exams 26.The feasibility and quality of the programs must be the guiding principle behind the quality and quantity of the facilities.

18. 27 Conditions – Information Faculties: › Information on intranet/Blackboard (continuous) › Meetings for staff › Informing first-year students Central › Lettters to student › Digital newsletter › Verbal information and flyers at marketing events › Etc.

19. From ECTS to prel. advice

20. Implementation factors ›Listening ›Staffing ›Communication: clear, using real letters ›Registration and administration (fast and correct). ›Involve administation staff !!! Ownership ›Improve teaching quality

21. Registration requirements ›Formal study registration ›Study program and load ›Course enrollment ›Study results ›Etc. ›Goal Correct Complete Real time as possible

22. Teaching quality ›All staff have to follow teacher training program ›All courses (so also staff) are evaluated ›No good evaluation means: training ›No good teaching results: no promotion ›Training based upon evidence based educational results (research about effectiveness of education ›Hattie, 2009 ›Jansen, 1996, 2004 ›Van den Berg & Hofman,2005

23. New possibilities ›Not the answer but part of the answer ›Early warning system Performance PreparationEffort

24. How to move on? ›Nominal = Normal ›Binding Study Advice (BSA) of 60 ECTS (instead of 40) ›Implementation of interactive/activating education(often supported by e-learning) ›Serial courses in stead of parallel courses ›Compensatory testing / grading ›Limitation of re-sits / re-exams ›Early identification and characterization of dropouts (early warning systems) ›OpenCourseWare: open courses for online access, so students better know what to expect (and hence, can make better decissions)

25. Discussion Contact information: J.F. (Jan Folkert) Deinum, PhD University of Groningen j.f.deinum@rug.nl