Importance of Foundation Year for Students from Wide Participation Backgrounds

This report discusses the importance of foundation year for students from wide participation backgrounds and the key challenges they face. It also explores how study skills in higher education can help these students overcome these challenges. The report emphasizes the significance of foundation courses in filling knowledge gaps, guaranteeing university places, and specializing in chosen fields. It also highlights the challenges of cost and funding, high student expectations, the need for innovative technology, and the importance of aligning estates, strategy, and student needs. The report concludes by emphasizing the role of study skills in selecting appropriate foundation courses and managing the challenges faced by foundation year students.

Study Skills
for
Higher Education

Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................3
(A). Identify the importance of foundation year for students from wide participation backgrounds and
explain why it is important......................................................................................................................3
(B). Explain the key challenges facing foundation year students.............................................................5
(C). Discuss how study skills in higher education can help foundation year students overcome some of
these challenges.......................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................7
REFRENCES..............................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
A foundation year is refers to an exact year of study at which university starts its courses.
In this basically one year courses are provided to students who completed their higher education
and going to take admission in college. It will permit those students who did not able to meet up
requirements for the entry to a normal course (Fallows and Steven, 2013). Through respective
course students able to fill the gap which help them in taking admission in effective manner at a
college or universities. Along with this financial year courses students able to improve their
skills as well as knowledge which help them in study future in appropriately and effectively. This
report is based on importance of foundation year for those students who belongs to wide
participation background and key challenges face by foundation year courses. Along with this it
will also include how study skills at higher education will helpful for students of foundation year
in order to overcome the challenges.
MAIN BODY
(A). Identify the importance of foundation year for students from wide participation backgrounds
and explain why it is important
Foundation year refers to duration or time when university its foundation courses which
is generally is for one year. This is joined by students who are pass outs of higher school and
going to take admission in college. Through this type of courses students able to enhance their
skills and ability which help them in tacking admission in their dream college. Foundation course
define as a course adopted by students at specific colleges and universities (Boud, Cohen and
Sampson, 2014). It can be either adopted in a huge range of subjects or in only a subject
throughout a basic level. Along with this, by this type of courses students able to get prepare for
future where they need to take admission in best as well as reputed college or university. There
are various other important of foundation years courses mainly for the international students and
from which some major are explain below:-
 Fills any gaps in knowledge between high school and university: The foundation year
courses are generally provided to those students who are higher school pass and going to
take admission in university. So by adapting or attaining this course they able to fill the

gap of knowledge as well as skills which is generated due to knowledge of higher school
and university. By developing bride over gap students able to enhance their skills and
ability which help them in their future education.
 A guaranteed university place: Once students will complete its foundation year course
as well as attain appropriate grade which are required, they able to get entre into first year
of their selected college or university for graduation (Groves and et.al., 2013). Along with
this, by attaining foundation course students also able to increase their skills, ability and
knowledge which help them in grabbing knowledge at college.
 Academic classes combined with English language: Generally these types of courses
are conduct in English language so it is appropriate for international students too. This is
so because they can also attend these classes in order to gain knowledge and skills. Along
with this, now a day it is very essential to speak English even if a person is highly
knowledgeable. If he/ she didn’t know English they may face rejection or embarrassment
in interview or any other workplace. So by attaining foundation year students able to
learn as well as improve their English that will help them in their future.
 Specialize in chosen field: The foundation courses are available for almost each and
every course in which a student wants to develop their career. So by adopting
foundational courses of their interest filed the student able to take admission in best
college for respective course. That will help them in perusing their career in appropriate
manner along with subject of their interest. There are various university which provide
numbers of foundation courses such as the University of Sheffield International College
provide two distinct foundation course i.e. Business, Law and Social Sciences or Science
& Engineering (7 benefits of studying a foundation course in the UK, 2019).
 Get used to university-style teaching: Foundation courses are generally developed in
order to reduce gap between higher school learning and university learning. So when a
student attains foundation year course class appropriately they able to understand and
know about teaching style of university. Along with this, by this they also prepare
themselves mentally that how they will treated as well as teaches at their university or
college.
As a sum up foundation year courses are very essential for both national and international
students because through this they able to learn many things related to interested subject which

help them in taking admission in best college of their choice. Along with this, by adopting
foundation course students able to know or understand teaching style of university which will
help them in prepare themselves in advance for upcoming situation.
(B). Explain the key challenges facing foundation year students
Through foundation courses a student able to learn many things which help them in their
future. Along with this, through this they also enhance their skills well as knowledge which is
essential for their admission of college (Zhang, 2012). But during this they faced various types of
challenges, some major of them faced by foundation years students are explain below:-
 Enhance cost and shifting funding: It is one of the common challenge face by a
student’s when they plan to join foundation course because they have to shift their place
according to the course classes as well as they also need to purchase new products
according to requirement which increase their expenses. Along with this, cost of teaching
and students learning are arising day by days which directly impact on expenses of a
student who want to join foundation course.
 Arise Students Expectation: In modern days students are paying more so that they can
get effective result as well as more they pay, more the expectation get increased. But
sometime situation arise that they did get truthful or expected outcome form the teacher
according to the amount they invested for their education or foundation courses. As the
view of Deloitte, in year 2015 out of 10 students only four students feel they had
acknowledged apposite value for their money. Along with this when it is asked to
students how they must pay for study then the reply may shock that a student pays approx
£9,000 a year for its studies (The Challenges Facing UK Higher Education, 2019). That is
too high for a middle or normal income group peoples.
 Demand of new innovative technology: If a student joins a course they required various
numbers of things from which one of the major is new technology. It refers to
requirement of elements through which students can lean through digital media. Such as
now a day trend of smart class room get increase so in order to be updated students also
need to have updated and innovative technology like mobile or laptop through which they
can excess all the necessary information properly and effectively. In this situation
students belong form low income group family face issues.

 Linking Estates, Strategy and the Student: Now a day every thing are changing from
canteens to lodging, lecture rooms to theatres, labs to libraries, buildings which is
necessary for universities future. This will leads to increment in infrastructure investment
form past few years which will directly impact on expenses, expectation and demand of
student. This is so because they think that if they are paying more than they are eligible
for high experiences in learning. So it is essential for colleges to develop their facilities
according to expectation of students and it but is not too expensive so that it can attain by
all type of students properly.
 Sustain in particular course: This situation arise when a student is not clear about their
future and study. Due to which they take any foundational course according to their
parent’s advice. But after attaining the courses they able to understand that they didn’t
want to continue respective courses (Jackson, 2012). Now it is issue for a student whether
they drop the course and adopt course according to their interest or continue to respective
course because they invest huge amount of money in it. So it is necessary for college to
take a small test or counseling before taking admission of students in particular course
because through it they able to know their interest.
(C). Discuss how study skills in higher education can help foundation year students overcome
some of these challenges
A student learns many things at their higher education which will help them in
overcoming each and every situation in effective manner. Along with this, it will also help them
in conduct work in effective as well as appropriate manner. But when these students adopt
foundation courses they go through some major issues which directly or indirectly impact on
their learning and courses. For example, increase in cost and shifting funding, arise students
expectation, need of new innovative technology, linking Estates, Strategy and the Student,
Sustain in particular course and many more. So it is essential for them to adopt or select this type
of courses in appropriate and effective manner after thinking as well as taking advice of others.
Moreover through their skills as well as knowledge of their higher education the students able to
understand these issues or problems and develop strategies for resolving it properly. Along with
this they also able to analysis situation which may cause issue in advance and in order to avoid it
they develop plan properly and effectively (Jackson, 2012). The study skills at higher education
also help students in selecting appropriate foundation courses according to their interest as well

as budget. This is so because by it they able to conduct their studies in proper manner. This will
also help them in identifying which technology is most appropriate for them which will help
them in studying or conducting work as well as also fit into their budget. Moreover, through
skills of higher education students also able to identify their priorities which help them in
developing their budget in systematic manner for attaining foundational course.
CONCLUSION
From above discussed point it can be analysis as well as conclude that now a day trend of
foundation year courses get increased which is generally taken by students who are passed out
from higher education and going to take admission in college or University. Through these types
of classes or courses students able to enhance their skills as well as knowledge which help them
in taking admission in best college in proper way. There is various other importance of this type
of courses but while they are taking these courses they face various issues and problems which
may affect their decision related to their further studies. Such as increase in cost and shifting
funding, arise students expectation, need of new innovative technology, linking Estates, Strategy
and the Student, Sustain in particular course and many more. Along with this, study skills gain at
higher education will help them in foundation year in order to avoid or face situation in effective
and appropriate manner. There are various type of foundation courses are available at market
which is conducted or adopted by students according its needs and requirement. Through which
they able to enhance their skills as well as knowledge in effective and appropriate manner.

REFRENCES
Books and journals
Fallows, S. and Steven, C., 2013. Integrating key skills in higher education: Employability,
transferable skills and learning for life. Routledge.
Boud, D., Cohen, R. and Sampson, J., 2014. Peer learning in higher education: Learning from
and with each other. Routledge.
Groves, M., and et.al., 2013. Encouraging the development of higher-level study skills using an
experiential learning framework. Teaching in Higher Education. 18(5). pp.545-556.
Zhang, A., 2012. Peer assessment of soft skills and hard skills. Journal of Information
Technology Education: Research. 11. pp.155-168.
Jackson, D., 2012. Business undergraduates' perceptions of their capabilities in employability
skills: Implications for industry and higher education. Industry and higher
education. 26(5). pp.345-356.
Online
The Challenges Facing UK Higher Education. 2019. [Online]. Available through:<
https://www.studyinternational.com/news/the-challenges-facing-uk-higher-education/ >.
7 benefits of studying a foundation course in the UK. 2019. [Online]. Available through:<
https://usic.sheffield.ac.uk/blog/2015/september/7-benefits-of-studying-a-foundation-
course-in-the-uk>.