Foundation Year Challenges and Study Skills in Higher Education

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STUDY SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................2
BODY........................................................................................................................................ 3
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................. 9
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INTRODUCTION
The report discussed the importance and relevance of higher education in the life of an
individual which help him in building the required mindset and knowledge for the future.
The strategies which can assist the students in retention and effective learning is examined
in the report. The techniques which can improve the learning process of the students. The
relevance of higher education is explained along with the challenges and issues faced by the
students are analysed in the report (Palaiologou, 2016). The utilization of media services and
network along with the library information is examined in the report.
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BODY
IMPORTANCE OF FOUNDATION YEAR FOR STUDENTS
It has been evident that the education system of the UK has been experiencing significant
challenges which result in certain gaps that impact the students in availing substantial
learning from the schools and universities. The learning which has been availed by the
students in their school might not possess required aspects which are needed in the
university which impact their higher education. In recent time, it has been evident that the
criteria for higher education have been evolving which provide a huge opportunity to the
students in availing significant education and learning.
The gap in the knowledge of students requires major attention of the schools and
universities as it hinders the talent and skills of the students. It is essential that the schools
and universities should focus on improving the learning of the students such that provide
them with the required learning and education which is missed. It would be helpful for
students in availing required knowledge which would assist them in excelling at a huge level.
The students from the widening-participation category require major attention as it would
assist them in availing substantial learning which is required for their career.
The role of foundational year for the students has been significant in nature as it provides
various opportunities to the students. The major benefit of the foundational year is that it
assists the students in filing their knowledge gap between the school and university. There
are different teaching methods which are experienced by the students in their school such
that the foundation year provides an opportunity to fill the gap (Quendler and Lamb, 2016).
The foundational programme is developed for the students in order to help them at a huge
level. There are various objectives of the foundation programme like they focus on providing
intermediate-level technical and professional skills to the students. In addition to this, it
focuses on contributing significantly towards the widening participation category such that
offering them a new and accessible path for higher education. It is helpful for the under-
represented students in higher education such that it assists the students in availing the
lifelong learning. Furthermore, the foundational year assist the students in excelling towards
their honour degree and further achieving a substantial position in their career.
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It could be stated that the role of the foundational year has been significant for the
students. The foundational year provides an opportunity to the students from different
segments to avail similar learning and education which assist them in building a positive
understanding regarding the education. In addition to this, it is helpful for the students in
gaining knowledge regarding the teaching which is provided in the university (Douglas et al.,
2015). The understanding of university style teaching helps the students in their studies and
preparing for a better future. There are different courses which are offered in the
universities where the students don’t have substantial knowledge regarding their chosen
course such that the foundation course helps in building required understanding about their
course and also build significant interest of it. The students also have the opportunity to
adjust with time in the atmosphere of the university which is helpful for the students in
studying effectively.
KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY FOUNDATION YEAR STUDENTS
The foundation year is considered as the most important year of the student in the
university as it assists them in gaining basic understanding and learning which would be
helpful at the huge level in the next years of university. There are various benefits of
foundation year for the students but it is also evaluated that there are certain challenges
which are experienced by the students in their foundation year. The challenges impact the
learning and education of the students at a huge level such that it is important to assess and
overcome the challenges effectively.
It is evident that the majority of the university concentrate on the students who are of A
level which lead to a significant challenge for the students who have a weak background.
The findings have present that the students who miss out the university degree find
difficulty in getting suitable work. It is important for the university that they provide an
opportunity for the students who have a weak background so that they could excel in their
career. In addition to this, the students with a low qualification are not provided admission
in the universities which act as a setback for the students (Bishop, 2018). It is essential for
the university that they provide equal opportunity to the students as it would be helpful for
them in availing various benefits.
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In addition to this, the other challenge which is experienced by the students is that they find
it difficult to adjust in the course as they don't have similar education, background, etc.
These aspects result in a certain level of hindrance among the students which impact their
performance in the university. In addition to this, the environment of the university
influences the students as they feel mental pressure in coping with the curriculum. It is
important for the university that they understand the situation of the students and improve
their recruitment process. The university should provide a significant opportunity for the
students with low qualifications as it would help in boosting their morale. It is evident that
the students who have low qualifications score well than the students with higher
qualifications. The weaker qualification students study more effectively in the university in
comparison to the stronger qualification students. It is important for the university that they
focus on the students from widening participation such that they support them and also
build interest among them. It would be helpful for the students in overcoming the
challenges faced in the foundation year of the university (Krutkowski, 2017). The foundation
year possess huge importance for the students such that it is the responsibility of the
university that they work on every aspect to provide a healthy and supportive environment
to the students.
ROLE OF STUDY SKILLS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Study skills possess significant importance for a student. There are different areas where the
study skills are helpful for the individual. The major advantage of study skills could be
perceived in areas like studying for pleasure, to enhance the knowledge regarding the
subject, gain a certain qualification, excelling the career, etc. The process of improving the
study skills is a steady and long-term process such that it is important for an individual to
focus on the process. In higher education, the role of study skill has been vital for the
students due to various reasons as it assists in gaining a significant advantage. In addition to
this, the study skills also assist the student in succeeding in life. The good study skills could
assist the student in boosting their confidence, self-esteem, and competence which would
also help in reducing their anxiety. The effective study skills are helpful for the students in
studying optimally such that utilizing the hours adequately (Naqvi et al., 2018). The learning
and retaining capability of the students is also improved through good study skills. It is also
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evaluated that the students feel motivated and consider their work worthwhile due to
effective study skills.
The study skills could be developed among the students through different practices. It is
essential for the students that they consider certain aspects during studying so that they
could avail most out of their study. The student should consider the big picture while
studying as it helps in building motivation and encouragement towards the study. In
addition, the prioritization of the work is important in a study such that proper planning
should be made by the students in order to study effectively. The student should have a
clear understanding of their agenda for studying such that they should study in a proper
manner. A suitable study area should be set up by the students so that they could study
suitably and achieve their goals. In addition to this, the students need to consider various
aspects during the study so that they could avail the maximum benefits from it. It is
important for the students that they make notes during their study as it helps in retaining
and learning things effectively. Also, the students could use paraphrase approach for
understanding their material as it assists them in repeating their words and also memorising
it. The students could teach other students which would be helpful in sharing the knowledge
and also memorizing their concepts. The anxiety among the student regarding the study
should be managed adequately through the help of proper sleep and study.
The practice of aforementioned steps would help the student in attaining the study skills
adequately. The regular practice would be helpful for the students in building effective study
skills which would assist them in availing their desired goals and objectives (Simm et al.,
2011). At the professional level, the study skill would also be assisting them in completing
their projects and deadline in an effective manner. The level of anxiety and fear would be
low among the students due to the study skills. It is essential that the university should
assist the students in developing the study skills so that they could avail desired benefits.
CONCLUSION
It could be evaluated that the study of foundational course has been significant in nature as
it provides an opportunity to evaluate the benefits and challenges for the students in the
foundational year. The foundation year possess huge importance for the students as it gives
them an opportunity to excel in their study and also attain the required education which
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would boost their career. There are different backgrounds of students who participate in
the foundation program of the university. The students who participate in the university
belong to different backgrounds and their qualifications are also different. Some students
have a low qualification and they learn through different kind of teaching which possess a
certain influence on their learning and education in the university. The foundation year
plays a major role in the students from different background and qualification as it provides
them with an opportunity to learn and understand the university style teaching which
further helps them in studying effectively.
Moreover, there are certain challenges which could be experienced by the students in the
foundation year. It is vital for the university that they assist and support the students so that
the challenges in the foundational year could be managed effectively. It is evident that the
challenges experienced by the students in their foundation year possess a major impact on
their performance and study such that it is vital that the students should be supported
adequately so that they could cope with the environment. In addition, the study skills
possess huge importance for the students in higher education as it assists them in studying
effectively and achieving their goals. The university should carry different activities in the
foundational year so that the students have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in
higher education.
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CONCLUSION
The report analysed the issues faced by the students in the process of getting higher
education. Suggestions are provided by the report in order to overcome these challenges
along with the participation of students of the foundation year. The background of students
comes in a way to make them acquire the education which can lead their future into
prosperity. The importance that education has in the life of an individual is put emphasis on
in this report. The interest of students should be considered by the institutions in order to
increase their participation level for education. The skills of the students can be improved
effectively by improving their learning and retention levels.
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REFERENCES
Bishop, D., (2018). Conceptualising the Student-University relationship within a UK higher
education university.
Douglas, J.A., Douglas, A., McClelland, R.J. and Davies, J., (2015). Understanding student
satisfaction and dissatisfaction: an interpretive study in the UK higher education context.
Studies in Higher Education, 40(2), pp.329-349.
Krutkowski, S. (2017). A strengths-based approach to widening participation students in
higher education. Reference Services Review, 45(2), pp.227-241.
Naqvi, S., Chikwa, G., Menon, U. and Al Kharusi, D., (2018). Study skills assessment among
undergraduate students at a private university college in Oman. Mediterranean Journal of
Social Sciences, 9(2), pp.139-147.
Palaiologou, I. ed., (2016). The early year's foundation stage: Theory and practice. Sage.
Quendler, E. and Lamb, M., (2016). Learning as a lifelong process-meeting the challenges of
the changing employability landscape: competences, skills and knowledge for sustainable
development. International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life Long
Learning, 26(3), pp.273-293.
Simm, D., Marvell, A., Winlow, H. and Schaaf, R., (2011). Student experiences of foundation
degrees in further and higher education. Planet, 24(1), pp.2-9.
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