Different perceptions of challenges in the transition from secondary to tertiary education settings

For many first-year students, the transition from secondary to tertiary education settings involves many challenges concerning general aspects of student life (social relations), as well as more specific aspects of learning and studying. Despite the existence of a considerable number of descriptive studies on the transition to higher education, little is known about possible interrelations between different student characteristics and the intensity with which students experience transition-related challenges. Based on a longitudinal survey of a full cohort of first-year students, we identified three sub-groups with different levels of self-efficacy. The study has shown that these groups also differ significantly in their perceptions of first-year challenges.

19.12.2014 | Taiga Brahm, Tobias Jenert & Dietrich Wagner (St. Gallen)