University of Sunderland

Student induction: aims and impacts

The aims of this session are to encourage participants to reflect on the purposes and potentials of student induction in HE, and to consider their current practice in the light of research findings.

There is relatively little research into the nature or impact of student inductions at HE. However, many institutions are now moving towards a more holistic approach to the induction activities in which students engage, and also towards `extended¿ models of induction, with provision being offered both before students arrive on campus and into the first term. In this session participants reflect on current practice in student induction in the Faculty, Department or Programme with which they are familiar, exploring practice, aims and [perceived] impacts as well as both met and unmet student needs. Research into student induction is considered, with particular focus on the evidence for effectiveness of extended induction programmes including those which use a variation on the American `freshman seminar¿ model. The relevance of these findings and possible impacts to local practice is discussed.