Foundation Year in UK: Challenges and Recommendations

This report delves into the significance of foundation years in the UK higher education system. It begins with an introduction to foundation years, explaining their role in bridging the gap between prior qualifications and university program requirements. The literature review explores the importance of foundation years for students, particularly those from widening-participation backgrounds, highlighting how these programs enhance skills, facilitate learning, and aid in career progression. The report also examines the value of widening-participation backgrounds within universities, emphasizing their contribution to a diverse and inclusive learning environment. A key section discusses the challenges faced by foundation year students, such as re-entering education, maintaining work-life balance, and assessing information, along with their positive and negative impacts. The report concludes with recommendations on how study skills in higher education can help students overcome these challenges, including getting organized, time management, and effective reading strategies. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of foundation years, their importance, and the support needed for student success.

Importance of Foundation year in UK

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................3
Importance of Foundation year for students ..............................................................................3
Importance of widening-participation background in university................................................4
Discussion and Analysis .................................................................................................................5
key challenges facing foundation year students along with their positive and negative impacts
.....................................................................................................................................................5
Recommendations............................................................................................................................6
How study skills in higher education helps foundation year students overcome challenges......6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Foundation year in UK is an extra year of study which is provided to the students before
starting of a specific university course. Further, it helps the students in meeting with the
requirement so that they can take place in university programmes. In addition, foundation
courses acts as a bridge between current qualifications and requirements of University
programmes in UK that allows the learners to improve their English and other weaknesses so
that they can take place in higher educational programmes in future. Apart from that, Higher
education is an educational programme in which several learners are engages so as to increasing
their knowledge regarding the specific theories, models or concepts. The foundation courses may
vary with universities and type of student to which it is offered as some of the courses are
designed to increase the participation of under represented groups. Foundation courses may vary
with universities and kind of student to which it is offered because some of these courses are
mainly designed for improving the weaknesses of students. Present report is based on importance
of foundation year in higher education programmes. Along with it, challenges which are faced by
students during foundation year programmes will also discussed in this project.
Literature Review
Importance of Foundation year for students
According to Jenny Cann. (2019) For taking growth and success in academic career, a
productive and systematic educational system is very important because it assists the individuals
in improving their mindset, behaviour and attitude (Why you should consider a foundation year,
2019). In modern educational world of UK, Most of the learners are confused as they have no
knowledge about the higher educational programmes but they wants to take participation in these
programmes so as to completing their higher education (Chalmers, 2014). Due to this,
educational department of UK have formed foundation year so as to opening door for those who
have dropped their schools due to personal reasons but now they wants to complete their
qualifications. However, foundation year offers a supportive environment to those students who
left their educational programmes and are nervous about embarking on an educational institution
degree. In addition to these, this can also determined as a mile stone in higher educational
programmes of UK nation such as learners who have not specific qualification but wants to
engage in degree programme thus, for these students foundation year programmes are formed.

These programmes provide an effective platform to the learners so that they can fulfil the
specific requirements for getting engaged in higher educational programmes. Main purpose of
these programmes is to allow the students to fulfil the basic requirements so that they will be
able in pursue a full degree. Some of the importance of foundation year for widening
participation background students are given as below: Enhancement in Skills: This is the Main importance of foundation year for those
students who are from wide backgrounds as they have no knowledge what standard of
English Language is required for pursue a university programme. Due to which it
provides supports the learners from different background in improving their skills and
proficiencies regarding to a specific university programme. In it, several effective classes
are provided to the students so that they will be able in speaking or writing different
language in which they have to pursue higher educational programme (Ryan and Zuber-
Skerritt, 2017). Inducing Learning: It is an another point that depicts its importance for those students
who are participating in these programmes and belongs from other background. With the
help of foundation year, They get effectively familiar with the type of teaching which
takes places within the universities along with ways in which different concepts and
theories are needed to be learned and retained. Learning capacity of learners from
widening-participation category is quite struggle for those students as there are several
techniques and methods of learning that has to be adopted or putted into practice by these
learners. Hence, it is very important for learners from wide participation backgrounds to
engage themselves in these programmes so as to improving knowledge regarding
different concepts and methods that will be helpful for them in taking growth in their
academic career.
 Career Progression: Students who opted these foundation year programmes are
determined as more qualified and capable and can easily gets a chance in taking
participation in university programmes. Furthermore, with enhanced skills and academic
opportunities they can easily get effective job in future which will beneficial for both i.e.
their personal and professional career.

Importance of widening-participation background in university
Widening participation backgrounds are very necessary in the universities as it not only
helps the teachers in understanding circumstances or cultures of students who belongs from
different background and cultures but also supports the individuals in improving their
proficiencies and skills regarding a specific method or language. Hence, it can be said that
widening-participation background are more essential in university because it supports both
students and teacher in gaining knowledge about different culture or language. It also supports
the guides or teachers in building positive relation with their students so that they don't feel
embarrassed during the foundation year. Widening-participation background in university are
more beneficial as they supports the teachers in filling the learning gap of students so that
through improving skills and proficiencies about a specific field of study they can get desired
success in future (Foster and et. al., 2015).
Discussion and Analysis
key challenges facing foundation year students along with their positive and negative impacts
This is an important task in which learners from widening-participation category have to
opt foundation year effectively as it is of vital importance and students can gain lots of
opportunities in terms of brightening their future career through engaging themselves in these
programmes. Apart from that, education system becomes more competitive nowadays as each
student wants to take growth and fruitfulness in their educational career. Therefore, it is more
challenging for those learners to re-entering in educational programmes after a long time gap.
The most common problem that can be faced by learners during foundation year is that they find
difficult to get back in preparing their mindset for reading textbook, learning theorems or
methods, retaining information which is heard by them during the lectures or classes. Some of
these challenges that is faced by learners during foundation year are given as below:
Learning to learn again: This is one of the biggest challenge that can become threat for
overall understanding of learners. As they have to prepare their mind in such a way to re learn
and take time to acquire knowledge which is quite difficult for them to prepare their mindset for
learning new things and retaining in their mind. However, it provides positive and negative
impact on the overall understanding of learners. These are given as below:

 Positive- This challenge will increase efficiency and patience in learners which will be
beneficial for them in gaining success in future academic career.
 Negative – It is quite challenging to learn each activity and functions for students due to
which most of students left foundation year.
Maintaining work life balance: It is an another challenge which is faced by learners
during the foundation year as they are mature and they have to make balance between the study
and personal life which is quite challenging for them to maintain. Positive or negative impact of
this challenge is given as below:
 Positive – Through maintaining balance in work life learners can easily take growth in
their future career as it will supports them in organising each activity as per the demand
of situation which will automatically leads them towards amazing results (Lim, 2018).
 Negative – Perhaps, it is true that doing more work leads the individual towards growth
but, it is partially wrong as making complete focuses on learning instead of another
activities can increase dullness in learners which can increase dissatisfaction among them
during the foundation year.
Assessment of Information: During the foundation year programmes, learners have to
find several informations so as to making high understanding regarding the concepts, theories or
methods but it is quite challenging for widening-participation category students because they
have no knowledge about the reliable resources from where best information can be gathered.
Due to which it becomes more difficult for the learners to gather more reliable information
regarding a specific concept in a shorter time-frame (Foster, 2017).
 Positive – It posses positive influences on the mindset of learners as this challenge
supports them in increasing their finding capacity so that better outcomes about the
specific concept can be received.
 Negative –Due to less experience, Wrong informations are gathered by the learners
which leads misunderstanding about the concept among them that influences their all
learning and understanding in negative manner.

Recommendations
How study skills in higher education helps foundation year students overcome challenges
Several challenges are faced by learners who belongs from widening-participation
category due to which ineffectiveness is faced by them during their foundation year that also
leads overburden in their future academic career. Therefore, it is very important for learners to
learn essential study skills that will helps them in overcoming all these challenges effectively.
There are numerous skills that should be acquired by learners so as to improve their
inefficiencies and effectiveness. Some of the ways through which learners can improve their
skills are given as follows:
Getting Organised to study: It is an initial step that should be taken by the learners so as
to developing their study skills as it enables individuals to frame an organised structure such as
when to study or which subject is to be studied. This will prove beneficial for students as they
will be able in adjusting themselves as per the requirement of situation which leads them to
enhance their knowledge regarding different theories or concepts that will be beneficial for them
in gaining prosperity and success in their future career. With the help of this method, they will be
able in overcoming the weaknesses of assessing information as through it they will be able in
finding reliable information that will leads them in getting better results in small time-frame.
Time management: In it, each learner should learn proper time management so that more
better results would be gained in future period of time. However, learners during foundation year
programme understands the value of time due to which they makes time plans for specific
activities accordingly that leads them towards achievement of their personal and professional
goals (Lai and Hong, 2015). During the foundation year they also learns time management and
its benefits due to which they prioritise tasks as per the time-frame that automatically leads them
towards achieving personal and professional goals. Along with it, they will also able in
maintaining work life balance which will automatically takes them towards growth and success
in their personal career.
Effective Reading: It is also an effective way that supports the learners in managing each
study information effectively that automatically increases their efficiency and proficiency of
learning or retaining informations. This will beneficial for learners in overcoming the stress and
dissatisfaction which was occur due to over focusing on managing study sources. Through

improving learning capacity learners will be able in handling difficulties that will automatically
leads them towards growth and success in their academic career.
From the above ways, it has been recommended to the learners those are engaged in
foundation year programmes that they should improve their skills and efficiencies so as to
overcoming the hurdles and hindrances that can occurs in their academic career. It has been also
recommended that learners should increase their flexibility so that they get adjusted in each kind
of environment as it will support them in finding better ways for overcoming basic challenges.
Although, these challenges can provide restrictions to learners in becoming successful but
through improving their skills and efficiencies they can easily get success and fruitfulness in
their academic career.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above discussed report that foundation year programme is
an effective way that supports the learners in overcoming their weaknesses along with fulfilling
gaps. These programmes also helps the students in learning effective ways so that difficulties and
issues can easily overcome. In addition, foundation year programmes also helps the widening-
participation background scholars in enhancing their hidden skills along with supports them in
finding the ways through which they can overcome their weaknesses. Furthermore, it generate
healthy and productive learning experience for the learners that will automatically leads them
towards growth and success in academic career.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Chalmers, D., 2014. Drama 3-5: A practical guide to teaching drama to children in the Early
Years Foundation Stage. Routledge.
Ericsson, I. and Karlsson, M. K., 2014. Motor skills and school performance in children with
daily physical education in school–a 9‐year intervention study. Scandinavian journal of
medicine & science in sports. 24(2). pp.273-278.
Foster, C and et. al., 2015. Cancer survivors’ self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following
primary treatment. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 9(1). pp.11-19.
Foster, D., 2017. Writing and learning in cross-national perspective: Transitions from secondary
to higher education. Routledge.
Lai, K.W. and Hong, K.S., 2015. Technology use and learning characteristics of students in
higher education: Do generational differences exist?. British Journal of Educational
Technology. 46(4). pp.725-738.
Lim, D., 2018. Quality assurance in higher education: A study of developing countries: A study
of developing countries. Routledge.
Litt, E. and Hargittai, E., 2016. The imagined audience on social network sites. Social Media+
Society. 2(1). p.2056305116633482.
O'Flaherty, J. and Phillips, C., 2015. The use of flipped classrooms in higher education: A
scoping review. The internet and higher education. 25. pp.85-95.
Jenny Cann and Zuber-Skerritt, O., 2019. Quality in postgraduate education. Routledge.
Tsai, C. W., Shen, P. D. and Lu, Y. J., 2015. The effects of Problem-Based Learning with flipped
classroom on elementary students' computing skills: A case study of the production of
Ebooks. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology
Education (IJICTE). 11(2). pp.32-40.
Online
Why you should consider a foundation year, 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.prospects.ac.uk/applying-for-university/choosing-a-course/why-you
should-consider-a-foundation-year>