Foundation Year in Higher Education: Challenges and Study Skills

This report delves into the significance of the foundation year in higher education, emphasizing its role in preparing students for university-level studies. It highlights the importance of the foundation year in providing a supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds, improving language skills, and increasing the chances of admission to prestigious universities. The report also addresses key challenges faced by foundation year students, such as difficulties in choosing a career path, parental pressure, homesickness, and the need for independent learning. Furthermore, it underscores the role of study skills in helping students overcome these challenges, including time management, prioritizing work, and seeking support from parents and educators. The report concludes by reiterating the crucial role of education and the importance of acquiring skills and knowledge to succeed in higher education and future careers. The report emphasizes the need for students to develop strong interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and practical knowledge to thrive in a competitive academic environment.

INDIVIDUAL
REPORT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
1. Importance of foundation year for students............................................................................3
2.Important challenges faced by foundation year students.........................................................5
3. Study skills in higher education helps foundation year students to overcome those
problems......................................................................................................................................6
4. Conclusion...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Education is a very important for the individuals because it helps in learning a lot of new
skills and abilities which will help the people in long run and career development. The present
business world is highly dynamic in nature and changes in external world creates a need to make
changes in the organisation as well and this can be done successfully only if individual has
acquired higher level of education (Bogo and. et. al., 2016). Thus, foundation year is very
important in explaining the higher education. Thereby, the report will concentrate on explaining
the importance of the foundation year for the students from wide participation background. It
will also place emphasis on key challenges which are faced by students. It will also illustrate the
study skills in higher education which can help the foundation year students to overcome some
of the challenges.
MAIN BODY
1. Importance of foundation year for students.
Foundation year is one where students is offered with a supportive environment to the
ones who have stayed away from the educational background and is hesitated to enter the same
again. Such programs are important for the students because it organises different sessions like
stresses on career aspirations and opportunities, also includes assessment of present transferable
skills (Gale and Parker, 2014). A foundation year is treated as a tactical move into the world of
higher education, specifically when the individual does not have right qualification. It is very
important for the students in the higher education because:
 Better language skills: The course which are offered during the foundation year for the
students of higher education, strongly contributes in improving the English and language
skills of the students. It involved both verbal and non verbal for of languages. This skills
is very important for tertiary education where the students will learn different types of
educational courses.
 Maximises the possibilities of getting admission in prestigious universities: When
students learn about the different courses, then they become educated and knowledgeable
enough which increases the chances of getting them admission in the most prestigious
and good colleges (Higgins and. et. al., 2016). This will ultimately provide an opportunity
to the students of the higher education for developing their future career and growth.

 Relevant qualifications for future studies: The future of the students is very difficult
because it highly depends the level of qualifications and education which is being
possessed by the individuals. Therefore, a foundation year provides an opportunity for the
students to learn a particular set of expertise knowledge and skills which plays a crucial
role in ensuring admissions (Hoaglund, Birkenfeld and Box, 2014). With this, the
students of higher education will get unique advantage over other students. They will
already be prepared in advance before they will start the full time educational programs.
 Reduction in cultural shock: Each and every education system has a different form of
culture and foundation year provides an opportunity for the students to learn different
culture and customs where they also experiences the different styles and methods of
learning. They learn to adjust in academic environment, teaching systems, types of
assessments before they begin their under-graduation studies.
When wider group of students participates in these programs then they are learned with
the skill and knowledge which is quiet different from the higher education. The learning style
and teaching methods are entirely different in foundation programs and higher education. The
students learn to get exposure of the outside education environment where learning the book s
education is not sufficient. They are learned with different kinds of skills which plays a very
crucial part in enhancing the abilities of the individuals (National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). The preparation for the colleges is very important for which
the foundation programs are organised. This takes place throughout the life of the students higher
education where they only worry about the future career development. The foundation year
provides a baseline to the students of higher education where they concentrate on improving
academic performances in high school. When students are exposed to different kinds of technical
and professional skills then they are able to explore different career development options for
themselves.
Thereby, just knowing or deciding what one wishes to do after the higher education for
the career development is not just sufficient because just like businesses, education also has
strong competition and each and every student is required to be prepared with different set of
knowledge and skills. They are required to learn different styles and techniques. The most crucial
in this is communication skill where one focuses on developing stronger communication skills.
When the wider group of students takes part in a foundation year program then this also helps in

eliminating the problem of hesitation so that they can easily communication and coordinate with
different individuals.
Apart from this, by attending foundation year programs, when students get knowledge of
different career options then they also learn about the their strength and weakness. They get the
full knowledge of the different courses and identifies and analyses their interest and capabilities
for performing the same (Price and Tovar, 2014). During the period of this, the students changes
their mind set from one option to another, they become confused, but it provides them with an
opportunity to select the best career option for themselves. They actually understand each and
every course in depth, get to know the future perspectives of the courses and develops the
interest which best fits into their development and growth for the future.
2.Important challenges faced by foundation year students.
Foundation year is one of the most important for the students of the UK and majority of
the students takes part in this for getting knowledge and skills of different career plans which
will lead them to the good and prestigious universities and colleges. As there are many positive
facts and importance of attending foundation year programs, this also has certain challenges
which are faced by the students. The following are the some of the major challenges which are
faced by the foundation year students and they are discussed below:
 It creates a distraction and confusion in the minds of the students regarding deciding the
courses. Due to ample of career options, they are not able to decide that they should go
for which career option. Many times students opt for such options which are opted by
their friends just to be with them and this will lead them to the selection of wrong
program and creates a hurdle for them in future.
 The parent's do not find the other options relevant and they forces their kids to go for a
relevant educational option which are selected by them (Scrivener and. et. al., 2015). This
will affect the whole life of the student because they may not be interested or capable
enough to cope up with that course.
 The students are under the stress and have a belief that their future is dependent only on
them and the way they clear with the higher education marks. They do not understand
that just clearing exams with good marks is not enough in present education world
because this needs strong inter personal skills which makes them confident and the
development of innovative and critical thinking skill is must for attainment of the proper

education from good colleges. Thus, practical knowledge is given more importance then
bookish knowledge.
 Some foundation year students suffer from a serious problem of being home sick. It
becomes very difficult for them to leave their home, parents and family. They are not
able to live alone and thus, adversely affects their future career (Soria and Stubblefield,
2014).
 The different courses in the higher school which are learned by the students may not be
demanded by the colleges and universities and for this, the student has to devote extra
time in learning other professional courses which will develop them as per the
requirements of the colleges.
 The students of foundation year will have to concentrate on developing the learning habit
and managing their time schedules on their own. There will be no one to look after them
and all the work will be prepared by themselves only. So those students who have always
lived a lavish life, where they get breakfast in bed, habitual of night parties, etc. will
become difficult to manage the things on their own.
 Students may or may not be happy with the professors and teachers. Before entering into
the program, they may have set certain perceptions and expectations regarding the future
life. They must have imagined that how it will gonna be but after entering they might not
find it as interesting and this may demotivate them (Soria, Fransen and Nackerud, 2014).
 One of the major problem which is faced by the students is food. Everybody is loved to
eat good and healthy food but when they stay away from home, then they do not get the
food like home where it becomes difficult for them to live.
 When wide number of students participates then there is a mixture of good and bad
people. Some students may be involved in drugs and alcohol where the others are
required to make proper and responsible choices so that their career does not duffer.
3. Study skills in higher education helps foundation year students to overcome those problems.
When students are studying in higher education then they must be taught with certain
skills and knowledge that they will be able to deal with such problems. The higher education
must concentrate on making students understand that education is very important and for this,
each and every student will need to suffer and sacrifice a lot. They must know that few year of
pain and sacrifice will make their life heaven.

The first and foremost thing which is required to make students learn is that they must
share their thoughts, future plans with their parents and teachers so that they can guide them
towards the right path. The students must be taught with managing the time schedules for
different subjects and personal life during the higher education. This will surely help them in the
foundation year programs where the students will have to live away from their families and
manage the whole work and schedule on their own. Apart from this, the different time
management strategies must be taught to them like prioritising work, setting deadlines, etc. such
that they can manage the time properly (Tovar, E., 2015). They must be taught that while
choosing the group of friends, the students must not get distracted from the original purpose of
their life. Furthermore, the higher education can also have cooking as one of their subject where
the student will be required to learn the basic cooking skills which will help them in future.
Furthermore, the higher education must organise some events for parents, where parents will also
get educated regarding the future career plans for their children and they will learn to support
their child so that the students will remain motivated towards the foundation year programs.
4. Conclusion
From this it has been concluded that education is one of the most important and crucial
factor in present life of the students. There are ample of career development opportunities and is
very important for the students to learn different career options and opt for the one which fits
best. People gets job according to their skills, knowledge and capabilities which is very
important for sustaining life, and so students are required to understand that when the individuals
will not be educated then this may lead to the poor future life. Depending upon the higher
education marks are not sufficient and students have to learn the practical knowledge that will
help them in long run. Therefore, foundation year programs not only concentrate on providing
different career options but they also helps in developing the academic and other skills of the
students which makes them competent and enhances professionalism.

REFERENCE
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Higgins, S., and. et. al., 2016. The Sutton Trust-Education Endowment Foundation Teaching and
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Hoaglund, A., Birkenfeld, K. and Box, J., 2014. Professional learning communities: Creating a
foundation for collaboration skills in pre-service teachers. Education.134(4). pp.521-
528.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016. Barriers and opportunities
for 2-year and 4-year STEM degrees: Systemic change to support students' diverse
pathways. National Academies Press.
Price, D. V. and Tovar, E., 2014. Student engagement and institutional graduation rates:
Identifying high-impact educational practices for community colleges. Community
College Journal of Research and Practice.38(9). pp.766-782.
Scrivener, S., and. et. al., 2015. Doubling graduation rates: Three-year effects of CUNY's
Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) for developmental education
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Sommo, and Hannah Fresques, Doubling Graduation Rates: Three-Year Effects of
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Soria, K. M., Fransen, J. and Nackerud, S., 2014. Stacks, serials, search engines, and students'
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Tovar, E., 2015. The role of faculty, counselors, and support programs on Latino/a community
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