'Institutions that achieve first-year excellence place a high priority on the first-year among competing institutional priorities and accept a significant share of responsibility for first-year student achievement' Krauss et al (2005, 381)

Data explored by UCD illustrates the importance of helping students organise their time better and to develop useful study skills at the beginning of their programme. The purchase by UCD Teaching & Learning of Palgrave's Skills4Study Campus product in June 2011, provides us with an excellent interactive online learning resource upon which to build a sound educational and support module for first year students.  It is envisaged that each programme will deliver such a module to level one students.  

Read the UCD Fellowships Report 2007-09  to learn more about the research of the Fellows into the first year experience and student engagement at UCD.

• Aimed to help students make the transition into university life
• Improved study skills at first year level
• Ease of transition from second level to third level education
• Greater engagement at first level

The Skills4Study Campus resource will be introduced to 380 first Arts students in September 2011 as part of a new module called PSY10110 Learning for Success at University.   Skills4Study Campus is integrated into the Blackboard course and contains the following mini-modules:

• Getting Ready for Academic Study
• Reading and Note-making
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Writing Skills 
• Referencing & Plagiarism
• Exam Skills

Each  mini-module contains a wealth of information, practice scenarios and course quizzes. 

If you would like to use Skills4Study Campus on your programme, please consult the Learning for Success at University Brief Guidelines   

The generic nature of the online package will not, in itself, adequately address the engagement and educational support needs of the student.  Krauss et al, (2005), in the major longitudinal study of 1st year engagement in Australian higher education, saw on-line delivered material as an important medium for engaging students, but only as part of an overall engagement process with peers and academics.

In-depth evaluation of Learning for Success at University will take place throughout and at the end of semester one 2011.  

A report and guidelines for best practice will be issued at the end of semester one for rollout of Learning for Success at University across the rest of the university at level one.