Reducing drop-out in higher education as a headline target of Europe 2020
Success through university graduation
Success in higher education (HE) is vital for jobs, social equality and economic growth. Therefore, highly qualified professionals are indispensable for each society.The target
As one of its headline targets the European Union’s strategy for jobs and growth, Europe 2020 proposes to lead at least 40% of the younger generation to a third level education (European Commission, 2010).The SUnStAR tool
The SRT (Self-Reflection Tool) helps you to reflect on your study situation in a structured way and to identify possible risks that could lead to dropping out. With scientifically sound and proven questions, you will be guided to shed light on important facets of your everyday university life: your learning methods and motivation, your social network at university, your career prospects or what challenges, burdens and worries you. You will receive detailed feedback on each set of questions. If risk areas are identified on the basis of your answers, you will be directed to the appropriate learning modules on the SUnStAR training platform. If you are interested, you can of course also work through the training modules without a recommendation.
The SRT provides a comprehensive feedback on your personal situation, on your everyday life at university and on the issues that may worry or burden you. It is possible that the feedback you receive for an area will be very different: In some areas you are well-positioned and they do not cause you any problems. In other areas, the shoe might pinch and you might ask yourself what you can do here?
The feedback from the SRT is a good basis for a discussion with a consultant at your university. Find out what kind of advice and support your university offers. You will see that there is a wide range of support services with different focuses and competences and that there is something for you. Based on the feedback from the SRT you will receive recommendations for suitable learning modules on the SUnStAR training platform.
SUnStAR offers you a training platform for self-directed learning. This means that you decide when and what you work on and at what pace. The platform comprises six modules. They enable you to acquire relevant knowledge and helpful skills in important areas of everyday academic life. Five modules cover areas in which students may have difficulties and therefore might consider dropping out of their studies: Motivation, academic resilience, self-regulated learning, social networks and personal career management. The sixth module is aimed at students who have already decided to leave university and offers them useful orientation.
Everything at your own pace
You can edit and use all the SUnStAR material (SRT, feedback, training modules) at your own speed - at the speed that suits you best.
Start the SRT by pressing the button below. Afterwards you can use the complete range of the SUnStAR tool. It is not necessary to enter any personal data.
Information for Counsellors
The rate of dropouts in higher education in Europe is still high. Most universities and colleges therefore provide comprehensive advice and assistance for those who are unsure about their studies. SUnStAR aims to make it easier for universities by bundling their services and offering them to students in a way that is tailored to their specific problems on the basis of the SRT’s information. What does that look like?
The SRT (Self-Reflection Tool) is an internet-based instrument for self-assessment. It supports and guides students in the self-assessment of their study situation. The SRT is based on the development of the previous EU project "PrevDrop - Detecting and Preventing Drop out from Higher Education or Supporting Students to Switch Successfully to VET". It is based on well-known educational and sociological theories e.g., the expectancy-x-value theory and help-seeking concepts. The measurements used in the tool rely on well tested psychometric developments. Universities and colleges can supplement the SRT with university-specific information on counselling services and, thus, provide the user with accurate and appropriate information. In this way, universities can integrate existing support and counselling services into the feedback of the SRT. At the same time, the SRT feedback serves students as a good basis for analyzing their problems and for the counselling process at university.
The SRT supports students in reflecting their study situation in a structured manner and without time constraints. This takes place anonymously and offers a low-threshold entry into the process and an introduction to the counselling services from the universities.
If the SRT identifies various problems or risk areas (e.g. lack of intrinsic motivation), the participant receives recommendations for a suitable training on the self-directed SUnStAR learning platform.
Would you like to learn more about the project, the SRT and the training platform? Then take a look at the manuals:
Do you have questions about the project or are you interested in integrating the SRT into your consulting services? Then, you are welcome to contact us:
ISPA - Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas Sociais e da Vida (Lisbon)
Francisco J. Peixoto & José Maria Castro Silva
Mail: fpeixoto@ispa.pt & jcsilva@ispa.pt