Enhancing the student experience: transition from vocational education and training to higher education: final report

This is the report of a project funded by the Australian and Learning Council (ALTC) in 2009 with the University of Western Sydney (UWS) as the lead institution and Charles Sturt University (CSU) as a partner. The purpose of the project was to investigate the transition experiences of students entering higher education on the basis of a vocational education and training (VET) qualification and to develop strategies that would facilitate the smooth transition of these students in the first year of study. The two partner institutions selected disciplinary cohorts for the study on the basis...  [+] Show more

This is the report of a project funded by the Australian and Learning Council (ALTC) in 2009 with the University of Western Sydney (UWS) as the lead institution and Charles Sturt University (CSU) as a partner. The purpose of the project was to investigate the transition experiences of students entering higher education on the basis of a vocational education and training (VET) qualification and to develop strategies that would facilitate the smooth transition of these students in the first year of study. The two partner institutions selected disciplinary cohorts for the study on the basis of proportions of articulating VET students. UWS investigated the experiences of students in business and law, early childhood, and nursing, while CSU concentrated on students undertaking studies in education. Key findings suggested that overall students valued the challenge of embracing a new university culture including adapting to different learning orientations and establishing new study and social networks. Despite this, the first year of study and in particular, the first months seemed to be a period in which many students experienced high levels of stress. In response to the findings the project team implemented a number of strategies to facilitate student transition from VET into higher education.

Excerpt from publication.