Why Students Leave: Findings from Qualitative Research into Student Non-Completion in Higher Education in Ireland

Report

This project reports on a systematic survey of existing qualitative data on student non-completion gathered by 16 Irish higher education institutions, including Universities, Institutes of Technology and HECA Colleges. The findings of the current qualitative study identified five core themes which are significant in terms of student non-completion: course, personal, financial, medical/health and family. Of these five, course was the strongest influencing factor. Importantly the study calls for a more positive interpretation of non-completion as part of the wider context of students’ career and programme plans. It also suggests that developing systematic and standardised institutional approaches to qualitative data gathering on students who leave will help enhance institutional and policy responses for the future. This study also helps to inform the forthcoming HEA Report 2015 A Study of Progression in Irish Higher Education Institutions 2012/13 2013/14, a quantitative analysis.

National Survey on the Use of Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2014

Report

Surrounded as we are by technologies, in almost every aspect of our lives, it is important that we are able to make sensible decisions about what works and what doesn’t work, about what facilitates and what encumbers and, importantly, about what inspires and encourages learning and creativity. This survey provides invaluable information about the current state of play in our institutions of higher education.

Strategic and Leadership Perspectives on Digital Capacity in Irish Higher Education

Report

This report, commissioned by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (National Forum), outlines strategic and leadership perspectives on building digital capacity across the Irish higher education sector. Conducted in tandem with the development of an extended roadmap focused on building digital capacity (to be published shortly), it explores and analyses leadership perspectives along with the stated strategic objectives of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) articulated in the Mission-based Performance Compacts (Compacts). This scoping exercise adds value by analysing the level of explication of digital capacity within institutions’ formal strategies, by exploring the differences and similarities between institutional types in this regard, and by gaining valuable senior management insights into some of the key challenges and opportunities that our institutions are grappling with when it comes to enhancing teaching and learning with digital technology.