Brochure First Year Student Survey UNIZA2015

UNIZA in collaboration with Ready STEM Go! STUMBLE BLOCKS OF FIRST YEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEEING STUDENTS

INTRODUCTION This survey is part of the European readySTEMgo project and aims to identify stumbling blocks This brochure presents the results of the first year students in the STEM disciplines (Science, student survey, which was conducted at the end Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). of the academic year 2014-2015 with new first- year bachelor students Faculty of Electrical Engineering * University of Zilina.Invited 212Completed 29% Students 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 61 * This survey was conducted with the students who participated on Physics lecture. Students 100% UNIZA

PROGRAMME … is not 100% sure of CHOICE his/her choice at the Students who indicated that beginning of the they doubted their choice of academic yearstudy in the beginning of the UNIZA 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 CAREER GOALSgoal 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 UNIZA

TEACHING … thinks the teaching staff is STAFF enthusiastic about what they are teaching.\"I think they [the teachers] areaccessible. I think there is no UNIZAdistance. 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 … the practical ... thinks the first year theoretical, but you really needapplicability of most courses are too theoretical this theoretical foundation to becourses is not entirely or abstract. able to solve the applicable clear. things later.” Student, Engineering Science UNIZA

WORKLOAD Agree Neutral Disagree“It's much more demanding 31% More than half of the 61%than I expected, not only the 8% students (61%)course material itself, but also …thinks the workloadthe amount of it that we need to indicates that she/he is too high.process in a short time.” has to study harder Student, Science than anticipated beforehand. UNIZA

STSUTDUYDEER SSTTRRAATTEEGGIIEESËN “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 UNIZA

STUDY “The learning strategies I used in secondary schoolSTRATEGIES proved to be inefficient at university”“While studying, I hardly do 31% 31% 38%anything but writing. And thattakes time. A lot of time. And Agree Neutral Disagreethen you suddenly realizethat a few hours have gone “During this academic year I had problemsby and you’ve done developing effective study skills”practically nothing.” 17% 49% 32% Student, Engineering Technology Agree Neutral Disagree UNIZA

TIME … has difficulties developingMANAGEMENT a study schedule.“At secondary school you just UNIZAstudied 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

TIME “I have problems to start studying”MANAGEMENT 38% 28%“If you don’t feel like studying,then the temptation to 28% of theprocrastinate is really high students reportsbecause there is ‘still so much troubles to starttime left’.” studying Student, Science 34% Agree Neutral Disagree UNIZA

… 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 UNIZA

TIME ... almost two in fourMANAGEMENT students indicates that he“I didn’t know what exactly was or she does not spendexpected of me. There is a little enough time on his orbit more pressure. You arenever really sure: should I be her studies.relaxing right now, or should Ibe studying?” Student, Engineering Technology UNIZA

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 UNIZA

SOCIAL … feels successfully …. indicates to feel INTEGRATION integrated with his or isolated in his or her fellow students.“ It [the integration process] her studies.started when we began with thelab sessions. We were dividedinto smaller groups and thenyou came into contact withpeople from you class that youdid not know yet.” Student, Engineering Technology UNIZA

… 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 UNIZA

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



More information? UNIZAFaculty of Electrical Engineering : [email protected] Department of Physics: [email protected] www.iiw.kuleuven.be/readystemgo http://fel.uniza.sk