First Year Student Survey 2015

Ready STEM Go! FIRST YEAR STUDENT SURVEY 2015

INTRODUCTION This survey is part of the European readySTEMgo project and aims to identify stumbling blocksThis brochure presents the results of the first year students in the STEM disciplines (Science,student survey, which was conducted at the end of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).the academic year 2014-2015 with new first-yearbachelor students of the faculties* in the Scienceand Technology Group of the KU Leuven.Invited 274 524 908 315 2021 StudentsCompleted 93 253 366 145 857 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Students 100% Bioscience Engineering Engineering Science Engineering Technology Science* This survey was conducted at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, the Faculty of Engineering Science, the Faculty of Engineering Technology and theFaculty of Science.

PROGRAMME … is not 100% sure ofCHOICE his/her choice at the Students who indicated that beginning of the they doubted their choice of academic year study in the beginning of the academic year, are more likely to stop their study programme early. Nearly one in three initial doubters are considering to switch to a different study.

I have a clear career STUDY CHOICEgoal of what I want toachieve with my current “I would like to work in thestudy programme. development of cars, in engine technologies, as well as in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics.” Student, Engineering Technology

TEACHING … thinks the teaching staff isSTAFF enthusiastic about what they are teaching.\"I think they [the teachers] areaccessible. I think there is nodistance. But initially I wasafraid this would be the case.”Student, Engineering Science

… indicates that most CURRICULUMof the courses are in line with their interests. “In the beginning it is quite To Almost a quarter (23.5%) theoretical, but you really need thinks the first year this theoretical foundation to be … the practicalapplicability of most courses are too theoretical able to solve the applicablecourses is not entirely or abstract. things later.” clear. Student, Engineering Science

WORKLOAD “I have to study harder than I anticipated beforehand”“It's much more demanding 25%than I expected, not only thecourse material itself, but also 47%the amount of it that we need toprocess in a short amount of Almost half of thetime.” students (47%)Student, Science indicates that she/he has to study harder than anticipated beforehand. 28% …thinks the workload is too high. Disagree Neutral Agree

STUSDTEUEDRY STSRTARTAETGEIGEIËENS “In“Mhoest tmoifdtdheelbtiamare was dat I initially echt een half dagske, je gaat je study my text book. Then I examen afleggen… Maar nu check out the slides and see heb ik je tijdens de blok drie things reoccur. And in the weken en om dat zo wat in te exercises the most important… experiences difficulties schatten, iakrevirnedpdeaattetdocahgawinel.”integrating different thingssources of course materialwhen studying. moeilijk.” Studente, Bioscience Engineering Student industrieel ingenieur

STUDY “The learning strategies I used in secondary schoolSTRATEGIES proved to be inefficient at university” “While studying, I hardly do 52% 22% 26% anything but writing. And that takes time. A lot of time. And Agree Neutral Disagree then you suddenly realize that a few hours have gone “During this academic year I had problems by and you’ve done developing effective study skills” practically nothing.” 49% 26% 25% Student, Engineering Technology Agree Neutral Disagree

Final percentage mathematics secondary school STUDY STRATEGIES< 70% 70% - 85% > 85% Students who enroll with a 48% 30% percentage in mathematics lower than 70% at secondary 57% school had more problems developing an efficient study planning. Agree Neutral Disagree“I had difficulties developing an efficient study strategy.”

TIME … has difficulties developingMANAGEMENT a study schedule.“At secondary school you juststudied for half a day and thenyou went to the exam… butnow you have an exam periodof three weeks and I find ithard to estimate that.”Student, Engineering Technology

of the female vs. TIME respondents MANAGEMENTindicates using a of the male study schedule students “It wasn’t until the examduring the exam period that I realised that I was period… progressing very slowly.” Student, Bioscience Engineering

TIME “I have problems to start studying”MANAGEMENT 26%“If you don’t feel like studying,then the temptation to More than half 56%procrastinate is really high of the studentsbecause there is ‘still so much (56%) reportstime left’.” troubles to startStudent, Science studying. 18% Agree Neutral Disagree

… has difficulties finding a TIMEgood balance between MANAGEMENTstudies and leisure. “I had difficulties with dividing my time, how I was going to manage everything… I was living outside of my parental house for the first time, my hobbies and on top of that the university… for me that was a long search.” Studente, Engineering Science

TIME One in fourMANAGEMENT students indicates that he or she“I didn’t know what exactly was does not spendexpected of me. There is a little enough time onbit more pressure. You are his or her studies.never really sure: should I berelaxing right now, or should Ibe studying?”Student, Engineering Technology

I do not have enough SELF-self-discipline DISCIPLINE “I am that kind of person that knows perfectly well how to do it, but then usually does not do it.” Studente, Bioscience Engineering

SOCIAL … feels successfully …. indicates to feelINTEGRATION integrated with his or isolated in his or her fellow students.“[The integration process] her studies.started when the lab sessionsbegan. We were divided intosmaller groups and then youcame into contact with peoplefrom you class that you did notknow yet.”Student, Engineering Technology

… had difficulties with the TRANSITIONtransition from secondary SECONDARY school to university. SCHOOL “At secondary school they hold your hand nearly all the time whereas at university, you go to class and then it is up to you to repeat the course material.” Student, Engineering Science

STUDENT … feels sufficiently supported byCOUNSELING the student counseling services in case of study related “There is sufficient student problems counseling by people who are really experts in their field.” Student, Science

… lost confidence in his- or herself SELF-because of poor grades. CONFIDENCEFinal percentage mathematics secondary school “For the first time in a long time I had stress for exams.”< 70% 31% Student, Engineering Technology70%-85% 23%> 85% 10% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% “I lost confidence in myself because of poor grades.”

NOT YOUR “Are you considering changing to another study programme next academic year?”CUP OF TEA? “I still feel like this is the right No Yes STEM* Non-STEM study programme for me and that I enjoy doing it.” 19% 58% Student, Engineering Science … considers switching to … of these students considers another study programme changing to another study within*Both university as non-university STEM studies next academic year the STEM field

We are there for you: Student advice services @ W&TBIOSCIENCE ENGINEERINGGo to: www.wet.kuleuven.be/monitoraat/bioingenieurswetenschappenENGINEERING SCIENCEGo to: www.eng.kuleuven.be/studenten/studentenbegeleidingENGINEERING TECHNOLOGYGo to: www.iiw.kuleuven.be/toekomstigestudenten/studiebegeleiding Monitoraat Bio-ingenieurswetenschappenSCIE NwwCwE.wet.kuHHleiiueevrrenee.beeenn/stetuemdleenaftioelnoa/sndturndeiuesbmegmeleeidringGo to: Hier een locatieCENTRAL STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICE KU LEUVENGo to: www.kuleuven.be/studentenvoorzieningen/studieadvies/studiebegeleiding/studiebegeleidingkuleuven

More information? Faculty of Bioscience Engineering: [email protected] Faculty of Engineering Science: [email protected] Faculty of Engineering Technology: [email protected] Faculty of Science: [email protected] www.iiw.kuleuven.be/readystemgo Contact: [email protected]

www.iiw.kuleuven.be/readystemgo