Editorial Comment:

Focus of the study

This briefing paper examines the issue of student retention and how it can be improved. The paper outlines the scale of the problem and the main reasons why a considerable number of students are leaving university without completing their studies. In particular, the paper focuses on the staff role in student retention.

Key Findings

The most recent figures (1997-98) suggest that 17% of students in the UK fail to complete their higher education programme. The cost of non-completion to the public purse is estimated to be £200 million per year. Non-completion rates are much higher in inner-city, post 1992 institutions than research-intensive universities.

The AUT indicates that there are two key factors that contribute to the problem of student retention: growing student hardship and the reduced time available for staff to provide academic and social support to students.

AUT highlight that supporting students throughout their academic careers is important in ensuring that they complete their studies. Information, advice and guidance is provided by student unions, university welfare services as well as academic staff.

Student numbers have expanded dramatically in the past three or four decades with 34% of young people entering HE in 1997/98 compared with 5% in the 1960's. However, the increase in academic and academic-related staff has not kept pace. Between 1980 and 1999 the student to academic staff ratio (SSR) virtually doubled from 9:1 to 17:1 in the UK.

Students from non-traditional backgrounds, in particular, are most ‘at risk’ from dropping out and are often in greater need of support and guidance than middle class students. However, the informal support role of academic and academic-related staff is being undermined by current inadequacies in funding, pay and conditions. If these students in particular do not receive the guidance they need this will have implications for widening participation.