The First Year Experience Project: A model for university-wide change

Studies of Australian first year students (McInnis & James, 1995; McInnis, James, & Hartley, 2000a) show that initial experiences on campus are important, and influence students' persistence in higher education. In this paper we present the way in which one Australian university has sought to address the issues of first year student progression and withdrawal, grounded in theory and research. We begin by reviewing the literature on withdrawal, and conclude that each university must understand the experiences of its own students, if it is to address attrition. Next, analysis of Tinto's six principles (Tinto, 1987, 1993), which underpin successful attempts to enhance first year student success and progression at university, and Peel's (1999) "basic set of expectations" in relation to attempts to address transition issues by universities, leads us to the conclusion that a coordinated, informed, university-wide response to transition issues will improve the learning experiences of all first year students. We then apply Fullan's theory (1991) of successful change processes to the context of La Trobe University. Drawing on this theoretical background, we discuss the processes of the First Year Experience Project, the vehicle for change that is in place at La Trobe University. We highlight the dynamic nature of the change process, and emphasise the way in which evaluation is embedded in that process. Finally, we attempt to synthesise the theory and the practice, showing where the First Year Experience Project at La Trobe University fits with theory, evaluating the success of the change model in relation to its objectives, and raising issues for the future.     

A conceptual level matching model for coordinating learner characteristics with educational approaches

The theoretical background and construct validity of Conceptual Level (CL) are summarized in order to provide the basis for deriving the CL matching model. The rationale for the CL matching model, which coordinates learner CL and degree of structure of educational approach, is described, and empirical support reviewed. A possible extension of the matching model based on coordinating learner “accessibility channels” with the form of presentation is summarized. Finally, a few problems in implementing matching models are noted.     

The contextual nature of university-wide curriculum change

We explored the relationships between social contexts and factors that promoted and inhibited curriculum change at two universities. Thirty interviews were analysed using a general inductive approach to identify factors and forces in three social contexts (lecturer, departmental, and institutional). Curriculum change was characterised by six forces: ownership, resources, identity, leadership, students, and quality assurance, each composed of factors that differed in their direction (enabling or inhibiting) and/or intensity (strong or weak). Academic developers should find the approach and lessons learned useful for planning interventions and identifying where they may encounter resistance or enablers in the process of change.     

A desktop publishing course: An alternative to internships for rural universities

Technical writing programs housed in geographically isolated universities face great challenges in regard to getting students career‐related work experience. A course in desktop publishing can provide students at rural schools with experience equivalent to internships. In the desktop publishing course I taught at Murray State University, in addition to learning principles of layout and design, students faced many challenges like those that will confront them in the workplace. They worked on projects that entailed real financial constraints and deadlines; they were required to modify their work after receiving reviews from several different individuals. In addition to providing students with experience, the course provided benefits to the university in terms of services and public relations.     

Student internships and employment opportunities after graduation: A field experiment

Internships during tertiary education have become substantially more common over the past decades in many industrialised countries. This study examines the impact of a voluntary intra-curricular internship experience during university studies on the probability of being invited to a job interview. To estimate a causal relationship, we conducted a randomised field experiment in which we sent 1248 fictitious, but realistic, resumes to real job openings. We find that applicants with internship experience have, on average, a 12.6% higher probability of being invited to a job interview.     

高职院校低年级学生对顶岗实习认识的调研

通过问卷调查发现,高职院校大部分低年级学生对顶岗实习认识不到位,不明确顶岗实习的目的;他们希望到专业对口且有发展前途的单位实习,认为实习单位应该由学校来联系;在顶岗实习期间应该获得劳动报酬;他们对自己的专业知识、自学能力和适应能力缺乏自信,希望在实习期间能随时得到专业教师的帮助;他们具有很强的环保意识和自我保护意识.     

The Kalamazoo plan: Institutionalizing internships for liberal arts students

Reviewing the literature and attending conferences reveals a sad similarity in the practice of most career development programs. Most colleges provide counseling, testing, and a number of workshops. The problem is not with the information presented, but with the teaching-learning methodology used to communicate it. Most current approaches are didactic in nature and therefore incompatible with the very essence of career development. This article will describe the successful career internship program at Kalamazoo College, which combines career development and experiential learning with impressive results.     

Towards graduate employment: exploring student identity through a university-wide employability project

Students have expectations of their university education leading to graduate careers, with universities investing considerable resources in institution-wide initiatives designed to enhance opportunities for student work placements and work-related learning. However, there are large variations between courses and disciplines in student uptake of these opportunities, with limited evidence explaining why this might be the case. Recognising recent approaches which consider student identity in transitions, this study explored student attitudes to work-related learning across a range of subject disciplines. The first phase of the study used in-class surveys (N = 199) to focus on students’ self-identification and perceptions of employability initiatives. Follow-up interviews were conducted to further explore themes emerging in the survey data. The study found that, while some students drew on resources for identity work in their recognition of and approach to work-related learning, access was limited, and university resources were not always recognised or effective. The findings have implications for the design of effective graduate employability initiatives.     

The pedagogical use of internships in criminal justice programs: A nationwide study

Internships have been viewed as an important component of many disciplines, including criminal justice. Most studies on the use of internships in criminal justice, however, have been program-specific discussions and have not focused on how they are used in general. This study uses a nationwide survey of 99 programs to ascertain the organization, application, implementation, and evaluation of internships in criminal justice. The data reveal that although there are some differences in how programs use these internships, there are also a number of similarities. Implications for changes based on these results are addressed.     

Note by the coordinating editor

Note by the coordinating editor     

Note by the coordinating editor

Note by the coordinating editor