Resources

...including Student Retention and the First Year Student Experience

• Scottish Engagement Themes 
  One of the Scottish Enhancement Themes is 'engagement and empowerment'. The website contains details of the Enhancement Themes in this area.
• The First-year Experience of Higher Education in the UK 
  The final report from an HEA-funded project based around a series of student surveys, including those students who did not return to study after the first year.
• Challenging and Supporting the First-Year Student: A Handbook for Improving the First Year of College (2004)
  This books aims to help institutions provide the best possible student experience. The book is focused on American colleges but contains information relevant to UK HEIs.  
• CIEL - Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning: Critical Interventions for Enhanced Learning
  This CETL was based on the first-year experience and is multi-disciplinary. It identified excellent practice in four areas: Art & Design; Applied Sciences; Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences and Education. These practices comprise critical interventions for the enhancement of retention, achievement and progression.
• STAR - Student Transition and Retention (University of Ulster)
  A 2002 project that intended to improve the student experience on entering higher education. It aimed to define the purpose of induction and introductory activities, identify practices which are fit for this purpose and disseminate this good practice through publications.
• EFYE: European First Year Experience Conference 
  EFYE is a yearly conference which explores the student experience at universities across Europe, with a specific focus on the importance of the first year.
• UCLan The Alternative Guide 
  A student-oriented website that aims to provide an accessible and friendly introduction to students starting study at UCLan.
• Research and Evidence Base for Student Engagement
  The HEA has published an evidence survey, an international literature review, a framework for action for institutional decision-makers and a setof case studies on student engagement.

BMAF Resources

• The Revolving Door: Teaching R&D Project 2007
  This BMAF-funded project was an investigation into the reasons why students drop out of university courses before completion.
• Enhancing Student Centred Learning
  The third in the 'Enhancing...' book series features 10 case studies, many of which are relevant to student engagement.