Student success at college is not just achieving high grades The National Forum for Teaching and Learning defines student success as the process by which students fulfil their potential and flourish at college and in society. This is a broader activity than simply achieving high grades. Psychosocial competencies are core to the definition of student success: these are the ‘soft skills’ or ‘non-cognitive skills’ that enable students to cope well with learning challenges, engage deeply in learning, and develop their identities as learners and as active citizens. Transitions are a key issue within this priority area, with transitions such as the move from school to college presenting both challenges and opportunities for students.
About this initiative
The Learning to Learn Programme is designed with the student in mind. It offers students new to the university an opportunity to explore where they are by decoding the language of the university and setting out the expectations of university life. Centred around the individual student journey, this programme offers an opportunity for all new students in the university to be introduced to the university setting and to explore how the university operates. A strength-based approach to education is fused with reflection so that the results for each student will be personalised and bespoke. This will help the students to settle into their programme and the university and also positively impact on retention. The Learning to Learn programme is a bespoke 4-week programme for all new students across the university to take as part of their induction process. The programme will include:
• Situational analysis (where am I now?)
• Exploration of processes at third level (how do I navigate the landscape)
• Introduction of strategies to ease the transition to university life (practical skills such as time management and study strategies)
• Examined through a reflective lens (metacognitive approaches)
It is intended that the programme will be customised by each academic department to include their handbooks, glossary of terms and school or department student handbooks as appropriate so that students can “Learn to Learn” as a … chemistry/Arts/Law/social science/dentistry student.
Lead organisations
Affiliated organisations
Linked open educational resources
Initiative details
Funding programmes SATLE
Themes Student Success
Award year
2020Funding amount (€)
36136Contributors
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