“Did ‘Step-Up’ help in stepping up?” Transition programmes as a factor to improve student academic performance “Het ‘Step-Up’ werklik ‘treë’ vorentoe moontlik gemaak?’ Oorgangsprogramme as ‘n inisiatief om die akademiese prestasie van studente te verbeter

Abstract

The transition into higher education is a challenging process for many students. Students are often underprepared academically (amongst other aspects). This under-preparedness influences students’ subsequent academic performance, and ultimately, overall student success. Research has shown that successful student transition into higher education can set the foundation for success at university. A transition programme (Step-Up) was offered to Bachelor of Commerce students before the start of the first semester to better prepare students academically and assist with the transition into higher education. The causal-comparative research design that was adopted demonstrated that in their first semester, the students who attended the transition programme consistently performed better academically than those who did not. Transition programmes can be a valuable form of early academic intervention that can and should be employed to cultivate student success and furthermore enable students to feel more prepared for higher education. 

Die oorgang na hoër onderwys is ‘n uitdagende proses vir baie studente. Studente is dikwels (onder andere) akademies ondervoorbereid. Hierdie onvoorbereidheid beïnvloed die studente se daaropvolgende akademiese prestasie, en ook uiteindelike algehele studentesukses. Dit is egter bewys dat suksesvolle studente-oorgang na hoër onderwys die grondslag vir sukses op universiteit kan lê. ‘n Oorgangsprogram (Step-Up) is voor die aanvang van die eerste semester aan BCom studente aangebied om hulle sodoende beter voor te berei vir universiteit, asook om te help met die oorgang na hoër onderwys. Die oorsaaklike-vergelykende navorsingsontwerp wat aangeneem is, het getoon dat studente wat die oorgangsprogram bygewoon het, deurlopend akademies beter presteer het as diegene wat dit nie bygewoon het nie. Oorgangsprogramme kan ‘n waardevolle vorm van vroeë akademiese intervensie wees wat aangewend kan en behoort te word om studentesukses te kweek en studente verder in staat te stel om meer voorbereid vir hoër onderwys te voel.