FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS’ ADAPTATION TO NATURAL SCIENCE STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

TitleFACTORS INFLUENCING THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS’ ADAPTATION TO NATURAL SCIENCE STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsBirzina, R, Cedere, D, Petersone, L
JournalJournal of Baltic Science Education
Volume18
Issue3
Start Page349-361
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedJune/2019
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1648-3898
Other NumbersE-ISSN 2538-7138
Keywordsadaptation to studies, first year natural science students, institutional, personal and academic factors, transferable skills
Abstract

The mass-approach in higher education promotes the broadening of students’ number and diversity therefore the question about the young people’s readiness to adapt to studies becomes more and more topical. Students who enrol in the natural science faculties of the University of Latvia (UL) are motivated and have high assessment in biology and chemistry as school subjects. However, the studies already during the 1st term prove that students encounter problems to get adjusted to the study process. In order to find out the key factors that determine the adaptation of the first-year students to studies, an e-questionnaire was developed and 79 students from the Faculty of Chemistry and Faculty of Biology were surveyed. Institutional and personal factors that are focused on the application of transferable skills are mainly those that affect the students’ adaptation in the first term of studies. At the same time such issues of the academic factor as students’ prior knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics and their skill to learn independently are intrinsic for students’ successful studies.

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2019/987-1559372124.pdf
DOI10.33225/jbse/19.18.349
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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