5 ways to reduce high dropout rates and ease student transitions
In any given year, approximately 20% of 18-year-olds enter vocational schools in Denmark. Yet only 60% of these students complete their programme, setting the dropout rate at a staggering 40%. For many of these students, the risk of dropping out is elevated as they go through periods of transition, for example, during pre-boarding, on-boarding, or when they begin their apprenticeship. In Episode 3 of the StudentPulse podcast, we speak to Lea Bergstedt, Director of Quality Assurance at Roskilde Technical College and Chairperson of the Quality Network, a collection of 160 vocational schools in Denmark, on how we can help students through challenging transition periods and prevent dropouts.
Transitions affect students both practically and mentally
When people go through a period of change, it is common to feel insecure and doubtful, even when the change is welcome and is good for us! This is because we are leaving what we know behind and venturing out into the new and unknown. Similarly for students transitioning, for instance from secondary school to vocational school, they are often vulnerable and require support to deal with their evolving identity and to make sense of the change they’re experiencing.
On a practical level, incoming students also require information and support on important matters such as class selection, student funding and apprenticeship programmes. Additionally, there are also students joining school who are coming from a job and with families to support. These students will have many more practical matters of concern such as housing, funding and being able to take time off for family emergencies.
How can educational institutions support students during transitions?
Lea shares that there are several steps that educators can take to proactively support their students through transitions.
Additionally Lea shares that there are also other initiatives happening in small pockets such as mentorship or buddy programmes that are still being trialled out in certain colleges. After all, reducing the 40% dropout rate is a big task and innovative solutions are needed to help solve this problem.
StudentPulse helps support student transitions during preboarding and onboarding
StudentPulse aims to empower educational institutions to better understand students’ needs by combining microsurveys with real-time data analytics. During the vulnerable preboarding (from the time a student signs up until their first day) and onboarding (first few days and weeks) period, StudentPulse microsurveys can be easily integrated into existing admission letters and processes to help students with their transitions b
To learn more about StudentPulse, feel free to reach out to our team here or click here to listen to the full version of our podcast with Lea on easing student transitions and reducing dropouts.