The need for a redefinition of first year experience in higher education is advocated with the aid of two models, which, although focused on a sample of Australian pre-service teaching students, is proposed as generalisable across the first year. Introduction to the mores of higher education is generally supported by teaching institutions during…

This article examines the current growth statistics of international graduate student populations in the United States in order to present trends in international student mobility. Although many scholars suggest the United States is facing a decrease in future international student demand, recent studies seem to challenge this theory. This article…

Young people with learning difficulties who go to residential special schools and colleges are highly vulnerable, often living a long way from home. Transition towards adulthood--from school to college, or college and beyond--requires careful planning and support for both young people and their families. Despite national policy and guidance in…

The aim of this study is to determine the items in Science and Technology and Mathematics subtests of 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in the 2009 LDE, which was performed to select the students for the secondary schools, exhibited item bias with regard to student gender. Mantel-Haenszel (MH) method was used in order to determine the differential item…

Extensive work has been done in North America to examine practices recommended to facilitate postschool transitions for youth with disabilities. Few studies in Australia, however, have investigated these practices. This study drew on the Taxonomy for Transition Programming developed by Kohler to benchmark practice at government and nongovernment…

The Learning Partnership (TLP) initiated a Family and Community Engagement Strategy (FACES) initiative in three Ontario communities to foster active and responsive relationships among community partners and enhanced family engagement in transitions to school. A case study research design, grounded in participatory action research, was used to…

It is a recurring debate many people have probably been engaged in: why do pupils appear to under-perform in the lower years of secondary school? In the latest in their "Perspectives on education" series, "Primary-secondary transfer in science" (Wellcome Trust, 2009), the Wellcome Trust addresses this problematic area with…

Postgraduate coursework is now delivered to a largely mature age study population, in what may be an unfamiliar mix of online and distance learning to many students. This paper reports on a novel approach to student orientation in this new environment. Orientation is conceptualised as a process of transition between the domain of everyday life and…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the support that exists for deaf students in the transition between further education and school into higher education in the UK. Deaf students make applications to higher education from a variety of educational institutions, such as Specialist Colleges for the Deaf, hearing impaired units within…

A perception that some boys are performing poorly both socially and academically is evident in the research literature. This perception has been linked to broader concerns around the transition of boys to manhood. Schools are increasingly paying attention to their role in this transition. This paper discusses the implementation of a rites of…

This paper describes an evaluation of the transition stages of "development assistance program" (DAP) international students (IS) at a large Australian research university. This group has different backgrounds that suggest distinct transition issues compared with students from wealthier families and/or more industrialized nations. We argue that a…

It is generally accepted (for example, Stein and Wade) that those young people who are able to establish positive relationships with their family in care and/or when transitioning from care are more likely to have a positive self-identity and self-confidence, and overall better outcomes. Conversely, poor or non-existent family links may contribute…

The college sector has many examples where low learner success in specific subject areas has been identified and tackled successfully. In several colleges, programmes receiving attention through special measures based on careful self-evaluation often make marked improvements in a short period, with significant improvements in outcomes for…

In 2007, as part of its response to the continuing diversification of students, Central Queensland University introduced a for-credit undergraduate course, "The Principles of University Learning", focusing on "learning to learn" in the Australian university context. The aim was to support the transition of learners with diverse…

In the UK, Personal Development Planning (PDP) is now an important part of a student's time at university. Its aim is to help students develop skills that will help them at university and in the workplace. However, research has shown that students do not always engage with this element of the curriculum. The aim of this article is to report on an…