Foundation Year Study Skills Report: Challenges and Solutions

This report examines study skills crucial for success in higher education, particularly focusing on the Foundation Year, also known as the Gateway programme, in UK universities. It highlights the importance of these programmes for developing essential skills like communication, especially for students from diverse backgrounds, and the value of wider participation. The report delves into the challenges students face, including social integration, environmental factors, cultural differences, homesickness, financial pressures, and time management issues. It analyses the implications of these challenges, both positive and negative, and recommends strategies such as mind mapping, effective note-taking, and improved time management to overcome them. The report also emphasizes how universities can foster a sense of belonging and improve students' transition to higher education, ultimately contributing to their career prospects. The report concludes by reiterating the significance of study skills for higher education and the positive impact of Foundation Years. This report is contributed by a student and available on Desklib, a platform offering AI-based study tools for students.

STUDY SKILLS FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................3
Importance of Foundation Year. ................................................................................................3
Importance of having wide participation backgrounds. .............................................................4
Discussion and Analysis..................................................................................................................5
Challenges faced by students of Foundation Year......................................................................5
Implications of the challenges.....................................................................................................6
Recommendations ...........................................................................................................................7
Ways in which study skills helps to overcome challenges.........................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Skills are the abilities that are required for completing a particular task or for solving the
problems etc. Skills for Higher education are required for pursuing higher degree courses.
Foundation Year is also called Gateway programme. Foundation Programme in UK plays an
important role in developing the skills of the students that are required for pursuing a higher
degree course in University or College (Coleman, 2018).
Foundation Programme in UK are offered by Universities either as a course for single
year or the course can be integrated with other degree programmes. Wider Participation is a
major priority of Government of UK. The aim of wider participation is to remove the gap in the
opportunity of higher education to the students that belongs to different communities. It is a
major part of the education policy of Government of UK. HEFCE is playing a major role in
wider participation by providing financial incentives to Colleges and Universities in UK.
Improving the participation of students of lower background is the strategic aim of HEFCE. It
also helps to improve the equality of education to women, disabled students and all the ethnic
groups. The Report will highlight the importance of Foundation Programme for students of wider
participation, value of having students of wider participation backgrounds in Universities. The
Report will also explain the challenges students of Foundation Year are facing and its impact etc.
Literature Review
Importance of Foundation Year.
Foundation Year refers to the two-year course for students that are leaving the school that
wants to qualify bachelor's degree in different subjects. Foundation Programme in UK helps the
students to develop different types of skills such as Communication skills etc. So that, students
can pursue higher education in Universities. In UK there are approximately 97 Universities that
are offering course under Foundation Year to the students. Foundation Programme is very
essential for students for the development of skills and knowledge in different fields such as
Business management, sport etc.
According to Du, X.(2016) students from wider participation background refers to the
students that belongs to lower economic and social groups. These students face various problems
in their transition from school to Universities for pursuing higher degree education. The
Foundation Year in UK plays a major role in keeping students from wider participation

background in Universities for pursuing higher education in Universities. The Programme that is
offered by Foundation Year in UK helps to improve the level of confidence of students that
belongs to wider participation background. It also helps in career development of students that
belongs to lower socio-economic groups. Students from wider participation has the potential of
performing better in different tasks, but they often fail due to lack of ability to obtain right type
of employment. Therefore, Foundation Programmes helps these students in development of skills
and knowledge by providing equal opportunity of education to students that belongs to different
backgrounds such as minority students etc. So that, they can easily get right type of employment.
As per the view of Broomfield, Cotter, M. and Dunne, (2018) Foundation Year helps in
improving the cooperation and collaboration between students that comes from lower socio-
economic backgrounds and students that belongs to higher category. It also helps to provide
better experience to minority students during their transition to Higher degree programmes and
helps to improve the relationship of students of wider participation with the faculties that helps to
promote engagement of lower socio-economic groups in the Universities. Foundation course
helps to improve the decision-making of these students for pursuing higher education and also
support the students in dealing with social, cultural or economic factors. The aim of UK
Government for promoting the involvement of wide participation students helps to improve the
level of self-sufficiency as well as level of motivation in the students. Universities are making
efforts for maximizing the opportunist for career aspects of these students.
Importance of having wide participation backgrounds.
Wide participation of students from lower socio-economic background is beneficial for
Universities also in different ways. It offers various benefits to not only the students of wider
participation background but also provides the advantage to Universities, employer etc.
According to Hale, (2015) wider participation will not only increase the number of
students from lower economic background but it will also improve the participation of under-
represented groups etc. This will help to improve diversity within the curriculum of Universities.
This will also help to receive the funding from Government of UK that will result in increase in
University income. Government should encourage these Universities for increasing the
participation of students from wide participation background. This will also increase the chance
of success of UK programmes, improving the value of class-room experience and also supports
the teachers. It is also significant in other areas such as providing the access of Universities to the

facilities of the Government, improves the involvement of stakeholders of Universities etc.
Students that belongs to wide participation background are having potential to develop skills and
knowledge, but they lack due to financial problems. Increase in the participation of these
students will help in getting betting students that leads to growth and success of Universities in
UK.
Discussion and Analysis.
Challenges faced by students of Foundation Year.
A positive and better transition to Higher education is very important for the students for
pursuing a particular high degree in Universities for positive outcomes. But, there are various
types of challenges that students faces during their transition from secondary programmes to
higher degree education in universities. The faculty in Foundation Year should make efforts for
promoting a sense of belonging in the students for achieving better results (Howie, G. and
Tauchert, 2019). Different challenges and difficulties students have to face in Universities are as
follows -
 One of the major challenge that students of Foundation Year faces is social integration. It
is the challenge for the students that does not share the lifestyle of traditional students.
For example – While pursuing foundation programme, students may think that if they do
not drink alcohol they will be isolated from the group.
 Another major thing that can impact the performance of students is the environment.
Faculties in the University such as lecture groups, supportive staff etc. should focus on
providing a good environment to the students that are pursuing foundation course.
Universities should promote the interaction between the students of Foundation Year so
that, they will feel that they are a part of learning community.
 Another major challenge that students have to face is the difficulties they face in
understanding the differences in the students that belongs to different cultures, ethnic
background, In Foundation Year, it is difficult for the students to form friends in a larger
group.
 The operations of education in higher degrees is very different from the school education.
Therefore, the transition of students to higher educations is very challenging for the
students in Foundation Year.

 Most of the students of Foundation Year are not prepared in advance for various
challenges that they have to face in Universities therefore, it requires more time to adjust
in new environment of the University.
 Students have to face various challenges in first year Foundation Programme due to
different environment, and they can also experience a culture shock because students
belongs to different cultures.
 Another challenge students may have to face is homesickness. Advancement in
communication technology may help students to communicate with their parents, friends
with the help of internet.
 Another barrier that students may have to face in Foundation Year is the pressure of
studies because most of the students are paying their fees to pursue Foundation
Programme themselves (Ruben, 2018).
 Students that are studying in Foundation Year may have to face Housing problems.
Students may get accommodation in any hotel but, it will be difficult for them to obtain
right type of accommodation and in UK accommodation facility for the students is one of
the big issue that students are facing. They have to consider various factors while finding
right type of accommodation. Such as distance between college and room, rate of rent,
different types of facilities available in the room etc.
 Another challenge student in Foundation Year have to face is the problem of time
management. Students have to manage the time for doing study, they also require time
for social life. Therefore, students does not find time for themselves. They also do not
find adequate time for their sleep (Mulholland, G. and Turner, J. eds., 2018).
Implications of the challenges.
The challenges faced by students in Foundation Year may have positive as well as
negative impacts these are as follows -
The challenge of social integration may have positive impact and negative impact on the
students. Students that are not comfortable with social integration are having fewer chances of
participating in student organization. This may create a positive impact on student because they
will not be influence by bad habits of other students.
It is difficult for Foundation Year students to adjust in new environment of the University
but there are some positive impacts as well. New environment will help the students to learn new

things, new skills and abilities etc. This will help them in the future. Students will come to know
about various types of cultures. Cost of education is a challenge for the students of Foundation
Year because it can result in various types of mental issues in students. Cost of education in UK
is increasing day by day. This may create negative impact on health of the students such as
depression, anxiety etc (Adachi, Tai, J.H.M. and Dawson, 2018).
Finding new friends is somewhat difficult at the starting of new life in Universities but,
after sometime students can easily make new friends that are having diverse interest and leads to
gaining new knowledge. Instead of all these challenges, students are pursuing higher education
because Universities helps to improve the career prospects of the students. Universities should
improve their transition to improve the sense of belongingness in students. So that, it will create
positive results.
Recommendations
Ways in which study skills helps to overcome challenges.
Firstly, students of Foundation Year should start using mind maps to remember and
visualize the relevant information. This will help to generate new ideas, creativity, to brainstorm
their ideas etc. With the help of mind maps, students will not feel high pressure of study in
Universities. Students should also make efforts for taking notes with the help of graphs, charts
etc. All these things will help to reduce the burden of studies.
Students should realize the importance of time management. They must work for improving their
skills for managing time. They should develop plan for study and other activities and do not
waste time in less important work (Broglia, Millings, A. and Barkham, 2018).
CONCLUSION
The above Report has described the meaning of Foundation Year, study skills for higher
education etc. There are more than 97 Universities that are providing the course of Foundation
Year to the students. They are playing a major role in improving the skills of students from wide
participation background. The Report has also outlined that students from lower socio-economic
groups are very important for the universities for improving the success of UK programmes.
Students faces various challenges in Foundation Year that may have positive or negative
impacts.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals -
Coleman, G., 2018. Victorian bar foundation student achievement award and mentoring
program. eVictorian Bar News, (163). p.32.
Du, X. and et.al., 2016. Preparing foundation-year students for medical studies in a problem-
based learning environment: students׳ perceptions. Health Professions Education. 2(2).
pp.130-137.
Broomfield, R., Cotter, M. and Dunne, J., 2018. P32 Can you improve knowledge and
confidence in common paediatric emergencies using simulation teaching as part of a
foundation year teaching program?.
Hale, M., 2015. How to prepare for an academic foundation programme interview. BMJ. 351.
p.h5937.
Howie, G. and Tauchert, A., 2019. Gender, teaching and research in higher education:
Challenges for the 21st century. Routledge.
Ruben, B.D., 2018. Quality in higher education. Routledge.
Mulholland, G. and Turner, J. eds., 2018. Enterprising Education in UK Higher Education:
Challenges for Theory and Practice. Routledge.
Adachi, C., Tai, J.H.M. and Dawson, P., 2018. Academics’ perceptions of the benefits and
challenges of self and peer assessment in higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in
Higher Education. 43(2). pp.294-306.
Broglia, E., Millings, A. and Barkham, M., 2018. Challenges to addressing student mental health
in embedded counselling services: a survey of UK higher and further education
institutions. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. 46(4). pp.441-455.