Transition from high school to university : perspectives of first year students at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Literature shows that the transition from high school to university is fraught with challengesand that there is need to appreciate these challenges from the students' perspectives anddevise ways of assisting the students navigate them smoothly. - Aim:To explore the perspectives of first year students at the University of Zimbabwe, College ofHealth Sciences (UZCHS) regarding their transition from high school to the UZCHS andpropose possible ways to manage the transition phase based on the students' perspectives. - Objectives : The objectives of this study were to determine the students' perspectives with regards tovarious factors that are known to affect the transition from high school to university. - Design: An evaluative research study design was adopted using a mixed method researchapproach sequentially applying a quantitative and qualitative method. - Method: Four hundred and eighty six (486) self-administered survey questionnaires with 23 closeendedquestions were distributed to all first year students in the UZCHS. Only 16 questionswere analysed for purposes of this research project.A total of 49 interviews were conducted for the in-depth structured questions interview on arandomly selected group of students from each of the programmes. - Results : The response rate was 51% (246/486) ; 81.4% of students were in the 19 to 20 years agegroup; 52% males and 48% females; 44.4% of the students were enrolled in the MBChBprogramme.The major challenges faced by the students were the heavy workload; poor counsellingservices; sticking to timetables; using the library; poor teacher-student relationships; poorsense of belonging; living with a diverse population Frustrations at the UZCHS wereidentified as arising from academic issues: examinations marks; poor facilities; inadequatehigh school preparation for university grades and poor feedback. Students' financing at university was also of concern to the students. The students found the orientation week mostuseful.The motivation for joining the UZCHS was for career prospects, personal desires andparental influence. Preparatory information given by the UZCHS was considered adequatebut not sufficiently detailed. Factors that helped students settle in were the initial reception,orientation week, and the relationships between students, staff and lecturers. The role ofparents, peers and friends in settling in was also highlighted as important. - Conclusions : The students' perspectives on transition are similar to those reported in the literature:needfor pre-university information, better accommodation, improved library facilities, improvedcounselling services, lengthening the orientation week, more detailed information aboutUZCHS before admission, improve pre-university contact with students ,reduced workloadin order to accommodate extra-curricular social life. Students' preparation for life andlearning at university should start during high school.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University