Kitty Chilcott Project Officer Back on Course Back

Kitty Chilcott, Project Officer

Back on Course Back in Course is a free, impartial information, advice and guidance service for early-leavers from full-time undergraduate higher education, and research project into the factors contributing to early-exit

Background • Scottish Government strategic priority • Concern about the number of students leaving HE early • 2012 – SFC • Launched 2013 • English model

Project scope and delivery • Full-time undergraduate early-leavers • Currently working with 11 partner Scottish universities • HEIs upload contact data • Inform leavers through exit correspondence • BOC team contact leavers • Two core strands: • Information, advice and guidance service • Research

Information, Advice and Guidance • Free impartial information advice and guidance service for early leavers from HE. • 2013 to 2015 – 260 • "I found Back on Course really helpful - I’m also thankful that you contacted me first as I didn’t even know you existed” Heather

BOC Research • Research into the motivations, needs and characteristics of early-leavers • Sectorial view of issues and share learning • 2013 – 2015 5, 453 contact details 486 completed surveys

Research Aims • Increase awareness of early-leavers’ perspectives on and experiences of early-exit • Improve understanding of factors contributing to early-exit • Research questions – Why students leave university early? – What more can universities do to help students stay in study?

Case study ‘I was so glad to hear about Back on Course. I thought people like me were forgotten about. I didn’t think I would be able to go back to university, I thought you got one chance and that was it. I did two years of animal biology even though I knew it wasn’t for me. I chose it because I thought it was the sensible thing to do. What I really want to do is teach. I would love to go back to university” Danni, Edinburgh

Early observations Patterns • Non-traditional students • Prior educational attainment – HNC/HNC • Course/personal reasons • Complex/multiple reasons for leaving • Link between reasons for entry and exit

Further analysis • Complete literature review • Complete qualitative exploration and analysis • Identify areas for further research • Make recommendations

CONTACT Kitty Chilcott Project Officer Back on Course Scotland Web: www. backoncourse. ac. uk Email: Contact-Scotland@backoncourse. ac. uk Phone: 0300 303 0264 Twitter: @BOCScotland