Students who do not complete their education are costly to universities, colleges, and training institutions. With over 25% of college students dropping out without receiving a diploma, the issue of student retention has swiftly become a top priority for educational institutions. This is when the student's prior experience comes into play as per Rachel Greenman Harrow. In higher education, it's critical to focus on students' experiences not only to ensure that they graduate but also to ensure that they become involved and active students who become enthused champions and alumni. In this post, we'll look at ways educators may improve student retention by providing a better experience.
Reasons For Students Dropping Out According To Rachel Greenman Harrow
While the United Kingdom leads the world in higher education with a retention rate of 71%, compared to 49% in the United States and 31% in Australia, many students fall through the cracks. The sector's diminishing numbers are a serious source of concern for future generations. Financial challenges, course availability, lack of counseling support, and lack of student involvement are all factors that contribute to failure to complete an education program. The last point is especially crucial. Student retention is more than a one-time event; it involves keeping students interested throughout their entire course, from start to finish according to Rachel Harrow. The panorama of college life and the learning experience is changing rapidly in the digital age. This provides a wide range of tools and possibilities for increased communication for schools and universities. Education providers must focus on improving the student experience in order to ensure that more students leave with the credentials they came for.
Be Active On Social Media And Provide Online Forum
Education providers may use social media to reach out to students before they even begin. It also allows students to meet one another online, allowing them to form friendships and professional relationships from the start of their college careers. Because the average 16-24-year-old spends a significant amount of time on social media, institutions should make use of the various channels to communicate with their students. Instagram and Snapchat are wonderful for using pictures to transmit information, whereas Facebook and Twitter are great for encouraging interaction and providing answers to problems as per Rachel Harrow. Colleges and universities can use social media to build their brand with some careful planning and strategy. They can share student experiences and promote forthcoming events using tools like video tales to increase engagement and, as a result, retention.
Seek Feedback And Try To Engage With Alumni
Nobody knows the advantages and disadvantages of a learning program better than its participants. The Teaching Excellence and Students Outcomes Framework (TEF) system in the United Kingdom relies heavily on student evaluation. Education providers, for example, provide students a voice through the National Student Survey, allowing them to provide feedback on their courses and teaching environments to their colleges and universities. It's simple to ask students what they think using tools, and surveys on social media and blogs are quick ways to learn what students want to learn more about or are concerned about. This provides institutions with vital information and external validation on what works and what needs to be altered to improve the student experience. Students can, in effect, co-create their own learning environment. The goal is to try out ideas that might work and inform pupils that you're doing so.
College may be an expensive and time-consuming experience. Over and above graduation, students want to know what happens at the end of the journey. Alumni can help promote awareness of an institution among the audience that matters - your students - in this digital age, where individuals rely more and more on peer reviews and endorsements. In essence, students want to see the possibility of meaningful personal and professional success and improvement. The most valuable brand ambassadors a college or institution can have are graduates who have gone on to achieve great success. Educational institutions will be able to demonstrate how good their courses and teaching systems are by providing opportunities for current students to talk with graduates, ask them questions, and benefit from their success. Mentorship programs have been shown to increase student retention and engagement among alumni.
Track Student Activity
Students usually display signals of disengagement or discontent before dropping out, which can range from missing lectures to late submissions before they run into serious problems. It's difficult to maintain track of each student's progress, especially when working with thousands of students from various schools and levels. Fortunately, technological improvements have given professors tools to keep track of their pupils. Colleges and institutions can use automation retention software to provide personal assistance to students who are having difficulty. Such tools had a considerable impact, with a 6% increase in persistence for students who were on the verge of dropping out, as well as an increase in the number of students seeking tutoring.
