students from Glasgow International College Project Leader: Mr Fred Ca - PDF document

students from Glasgow International College Project Leader: Mr Fred Cartmel, Chief Adviser (Social Sciences)) Other contributors: Dr Gayle Pringle, Faculty International Officer (LBSS This project will chart the student experience and academic progress of international postgraduate taught students (PGTs), after completing their pre-Masters year at Glasgow International College (GIC). Pre-Masters students in GIC go on to enter two colleges in the University: Social Science one cohort, through questionnaires and focus groups, over academic years 2010-2012. The information will be used to inform and develop appropriate means to enhance student learning in this group, with students from the target group actively involved in developing relevant materials and pre-entry information. The Learning and Teaching Strategies Key Principles demonstrate the university’s commitment and this proposed project will provide information c teaching and learning issues arising through partnership working. The project will give enhastudents entering directly into postgraduate programmes from a partner institution, while udent completion will inform the development of suitable learning support and enhancement with GIC and across two University Colleges. The project will explore postgraduates’ experiences and expectations while attending GIC and their transition into the University of Glasgow, which will provide useful information and outputs that can be utilised among all international postgraduate students. The aims of the project: to gain an insight into the experiences of 200-300 postgraduate students from GIC. to investigate the barriers and bridges that the group identify as helping or hindering their academic progress; in particular to identify barriers which could prevent international students integrating into the University, and which could lead to non-completion of to design and implement appropriate measures to assist the transition for international postgraduate students into the University of Glasgow In terms of outcomes, the research will lead to group of students, which will then allow for the implementation of appropriate measures to support the cohorts starting in 2012-13 and beyond. Support materials/activities to enhance the student learning experience will be produced, with the active involvement of students. In addition, material produced could be distributed to all international students admitted into the University. A final report will offer a thorough exploration of student progress, and highlight elements which support or detract from this. Previous Work A previous LTDF-funded project, ‘Enhancing the Student Experience: MA Social Sciences ’ (2008-10) has explored and addressed the experiences of undergraduate students joining the University from a partner institution. The proposed project would build on this work by focusing for the first time on postgraduate students. To date there has been very limited research into the experiences of students joining University degree programs from a UK-based partner institution. We propose to investigate the experiences of students during both their pre-entry and their degree programmes in order to inform the development of student support which will be implemented at various points during the study Student views will be sought throInitially, a questionnaire will be completed by students towards the end of their first semester at GIC, which will identify the expectations and experiences of studying in Scotland. A second questionnaire will be completed during the students’ first semester at the University. The quantitative research will be complimented by qualitative data. Student focus groups will be held during both semesters of PGT study at the University for the cohort in 2011-12. These will explore the students’ experiences of the transition and of classes and assessment. The focus groups will be transcribed to allow the progress of the student experience to be charted and any key issues to be raised. Individual interviews will also be undertaken with teaching staff on relevant PGT programs to identify any issues impacting on GIC students. Approval will be sought from the College Ethics Committee for the questionnaire, focus group and the individual Students from the target group will be recruited during 2011-12 to participate in the planning and design of support materials or activities, which will then be produced/delivered to the cohort for 2012-13. The exact nature of these will depend on student input, but may include, for example, the production of an information brochure/pack that can be distributed to all international will not only produce materials/activities which are of great relevance to new students from GIC, but will also add to the skills development of those involved in their production and allow greater opportunities to evaluate their own learning. The various aspects of the project will be discussed in a yearly report, including future recommendations, which will be presented to relevant staff. Potential Applicability / Transferability The findings will contribute to scholarly activity and the development of appropriate international student support across the University, particularly in relation to: subsequent cohorts from GIC or other pre-entry partnership arrangements nal student transitions student experiences of learning and assessment Specific means of dissemination could include: Centre, relevant Postgraduate Studies Committee, and to GIC Board of Studies a half-day meeting with relevant members of staff in Glasgow International College to discuss feedback and initiatives implemented wider dissemination through a conferThe project is envisaged over two years in order to allow the project team to analyse student experiences and expectations at GIC and at the University of Glasgow. Student feedback is also key to the project. It is anticipated that during the course of the research, measures will be implemented in response to the needs raised by students, and these will be evaluated either in the focus groups that follow or by other means, e.g. short questionnaire if appropriate. The materials or activities developed to support future cohorts will also be evaluated by these users. Jan - Jun 2011 GIC students complete pre-arrival questionnaire and data analysed Jul - Sept 2011 Analysis of student GIC exam results Sept – Oct 2011 New GU students complete questionnaire and data analysed Summary report on GIC students’ experiences Nov 2011 - Apr Focus groups conducted with former GIC students at GU Nov 2011 - Apr Individual interviews conducted with GU staff involved in teaching former GIC Nov 2011 - Sept Students recruited and support materials/activities developed and implemented Nov 2012 Analysis of PGT student exam results Summary report on former GIC students’ experiences on PGT courses at GU Project co-ordination, data analysis and co-ordination of materials/activities development will be ill be incorporated within their normal duties. The research associate will be responsible for the data input, preliminary analysis of the terviews and the focus groups. Colleagues in GIC, Peter Venables (Academic Director) and Neil Macleod (Programme Director for Science and Engineering), have agreed to advise on the project and assist with questionnaire distribution at GIC. 2010-11 2011-12 Running expenses - refreshments for focus groups Transcription of focus group and interview data £800 Student contributors to materials/activities development - 100 hours at approx £8.19 per hour (equivalent to Grade 3 on salary £820 Research Associate – 35 hours annually at approx £21.34 per hour (equivalent to Grade 8 on salary scale) Producing and printing 1,000 copies of information brochure (estimate from University of Glasgow Print Unit) £1530 £4,500 Total funding sought = £5,250Should this application be successful and be granted funding, I give consent for this application to be published on the Learning and