Challenges and Solutions for University Students: Individual Report

This individual report delves into the multifaceted challenges encountered by university students, encompassing time management, work commitments, family responsibilities, and the struggle to maintain personal time for hobbies and self-care. The report begins with an introduction that highlights the pressures of academic life and the impact of these challenges on students' mental well-being. A comprehensive literature review explores the identified challenges, drawing on the perspectives of various authors. The analysis and discussion section then examines the implications of these challenges on students' study patterns and overall academic performance, emphasizing the need for effective coping strategies. The report culminates in actionable recommendations for students, such as seeking guidance from mentors and utilizing time management techniques. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, reiterating the importance of addressing these challenges to foster academic success and personal well-being. References from scholarly journals and books are included to support the arguments presented.

Individual Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................5
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Academic life of an individual is recognised to be the integration of a number of
experiences that shape their personality and life in a particular manner. In this regard, it has been
identified that students face several challenges during the tenure of their course work at the
college. Such challenges can include time management, work commitments, family
responsibilities, lack of personal time, lack of time for hobbies and many more. Such challenges
tend to place a negative impact over the mindset and mental state of individuals undergoing the
academic life at university. It is important for students to take measures through which such
challenges can be effectively tackled and the negative consequences of the same can be
decreased.
The report presented below takes into account a wide array of challenges which affect the
individuals studying at university on the basis of literature. Further, it consists of analysis and
discussion over the concerned subject matter. Lastly, recommendations are given with the help
of which students can deal with such issues in an effectual manner and emerge as stronger
personalities.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Students encounter several issues while carrying out studies at university. These
challenges tend to hamper their study routine together with their mental peace. Altogether, it can
also be said that such challenges act as hurdles in the path of individuals while carrying out
personal and professional development. Thus, it becomes important for individuals undergoing
learning at university to identify and analyse these issues in an effective manner so that these can
be duly dealt with, by them.
In accordance with the views and opinions put forward by Bayar, (2016), it has been
determined that the most crucial challenge which is faced by students while undergoing study in
university is time management. It is often seen that students are not able to prioritise their time as
they have several tasks which make them feel confused as to which one is more important and
which one is lesser. In this regard, the author has put forward the premise that the ineffectiveness
of time management within the students serve as a challenge for them as they are not able to
complete the academic tasks and activities in due course of time. As a result of this, many a

times, they are not able to submit the projects on deadlines. Further, a direct impact of this is also
seen in terms of low scores in projects, exams or assessments.
As per the point of view expressed by Akanwa, (2015), work commitment is yet another
challenge that is faced by individuals. In this regard, it is often seen that a number of students do
part time jobs together with their studies at college. This creates difficulty for them as a number
of times, they are not able to manage their work commitments with their duty or responsibility as
a student of university. This put a lot of pressure upon the individual as they are put in a dilemma
whereby the choice which is to be made is very difficult. This is so because part time job is
joined by them due to financial issues and thus leaving the job is not an option available to them.
Further, they cannot even stop carrying out studies at university as this is full of opportunity for
them to facilitate career progression. Thus, work commitment tends to serve as another big
challenge for students.
In accordance with the perception of Parker, Hughes, Marsh, Ahmed, Cannon, Taylor-
Steeds, Jones and Page, (2017), it is acknowledged that not finding appropriate time for family
amidst the college pressure is another significant issue that affects the life of students at
university. In this relation, it is identified that when students undergo degree course work at
college level, they are a given a number of assignments, projects, assessments on a regular basis.
Further, they also have to do preparation for exams. This put them under pressure as they have to
score good in all of these to elevate the extent of their career progression. Due to this, their study
pattern is affected and consequently they are not able to keep mental peace. The overall outcome
of this is upon their academic grades which get worse with the passage of time.
As per the views and opinions of DuBose, (2017), students are not able to take out time
for themselves as a result of their college commitments. Their tutors put pressure over them by
way of giving them, assignments, assessments, projects, researches, case studies, classroom
activities, presentations and many more. A student has to manage all the college commitments in
a timely manner so that their grades are not negatively affected. As a result of this, they are not
able to get time for themselves. Too often, the college students are seen complaining about the
coursework that becomes a burden for them and does not let them enjoy their lives properly.
When students just focus over academic commitments and do not make out time for themselves,
they start feeling frustrated and lose their calm. Due to this, their study pattern gets affected and

they begin denoting less time to university. This results in adverse consequences for personnel
and may even lead to dampening academic progress in class.
As per the ideology of Musingafi, Mapuranga, Chiwanza and Zebron, (2015), it is
recognised that students even face difficulty when they are not able to take out time for their
hobbies or passion. In this relation, the author has pointed out that colleges or universities put a
lot of pressure or in other terms burden upon the students in terms of assignments, projects,
assessments, researches, case studies and so on. When academic pressure does not let a student
have time for his or her hobby / passion, it tends to decrease their morale of putting in efforts for
studying also. This is so because they start feeling frustrated as a result of it. Hobbies or passion
are activities that help an individual feel relaxed as they are of his or her interest. Such activities
possess the capability of calming down the individual and relieving them of any pressure they
have been feeling since a long period of time. So, when students are devoid of the time to carry
out their hobbies or passion because of university related pressure, individuals are not able to
maintain their calm and stay stable. This put a long term effect upon their study patterns and their
grades in projects and assignments.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
As per the literature review presented above, it is analysed that students undergoing
course work at university undergo a number of challenges. These issues at times act as hurdles in
their path of facilitating personal and professional development. Challenges such as work
commitments, family responsibilities, time management, lack of time for hobbies / passion, lack
of time for oneself have a major impact over the study pattern of individuals. These issues
hamper their mental state and put them in a state of frustration. This happens as the college
responsibilities do not let them take out time for any other assignments other than just college
assignments, projects, course work learning, revision of course work and giving exams. Thus, the
discussion makes it clear that there is an emergent need for students to take such measures with
the help of which they can effectively deal with such challenges. With such course of action,
individuals will be able to emerge as strong and better learners who are willing to complete all
assignments and projects in due course of time in order to get good scores.

RECOMMENDATIONS
On the basis of literature review and analysis presented before, certain suggestions can be
given to students through which they can deal with the challenges faced by them during their
tenure at the university. The first suggestion is that students should seek supervision from their
teachers, seniors or tutors. They have already undergone that situation so they can provide the
students with justified suggestions to deal with the challenges in an effective manner so that they
do not place a negative impact. Further, students can even make a schedule of events so as to
prioritise the activities accordingly. In addition to this, the individuals can even undergo time
management sessions whereby they will get guidance regarding the ways to deal with such issues
in an effectual way.
CONCLUSION
As per the literature review and discussion done above, it can be said that the life
undergone by students in university is complex and cumbersome. It involves dealing with a
number of challenges that emerge as a result of commitments made by personnel in other
domains of life. In this relation, it has been identified that some of the biggest challenges that are
faced by students undergoing study at university are time management, work commitments,
family responsibilities, time for hobbies and personal time. All of these issues tend to hamper
their learning cycle at the college and place a negative impact over their study patterns during
days of their degree course work. These may even result in causing stress to the students.
Further, a direct of this is seen in terms of their goodwill and rapport with the teachers as they
undergo a sudden shift from being disciplined and punctual in project submissions to being late
submitter. Consequently, the students may not even be able to concentrate in studies or get good
scores in projects or examinations. Thus, it becomes important for individuals to take measures
through which they can deal with the challenges faced by them at university in an effective
manner. Thus, students can undergo time management sessions which will provide them with
effective tips and guidance to prioritise the work and manage all the activities accordingly.
Further, they can even take guidance or seek support from their supervisors, seniors, tutors and
peers as they are quite acquainted with such challenges.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Musingafi, M.C., Mapuranga, B., Chiwanza, K. and Zebron, S., 2015. Challenges for open and
distance learning (ODL) students: Experiences from students of the Zimbabwe Open
University. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(18), pp.59-66.
DuBose, C.O., 2017. But I don’t understand you: one faculty’s observations of the challenges
facing international healthcare students. Journal of International Students, 7(1),
pp.154-159.
Tshotsho, B., Cekiso, M. and Mumbembe, L., 2015. English language grammar challenges
facing Congolese international students in South Africa. International Journal of
Educational Sciences, 9(1), pp.73-79.
Parker, H., Hughes, A., Marsh, C., Ahmed, S., Cannon, J., Taylor-Steeds, E., Jones, L. and Page,
N., 2017. Understanding the different challenges facing students in transitioning to
university particularly with a focus on ethnicity. New Directions in the Teaching of
Physical Sciences, 12.
Akanwa, E.E., 2015. International students in western developed countries: History, challenges,
and prospects. Journal of International Students, 5(3), pp.271-284.
Bayar, A., 2016. Challenges Facing Principals in the First Year at Their Schools. Universal
Journal of Educational Research, 4(1), pp.192-199.