why students withdraw from exchange aiec 2015/1019... · 2016. 12. 16. · faculty approval full uq...
TRANSCRIPT
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WHY STUDENTS
WITHDRAW FROM
EXCHANGE
An examination of student responsesKatie Smith
Student Exchange Advisor
University of Queensland, UQ Abroad
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SNAPSHOT: OUTGOING EXCHANGE AT UQ
• 187 partner universities
• 40 countries
• Top destinations:1. USA
2. UK
3. Canada
• Increase in applications received
• 2010 – 2015: +26.5%
• Most received for 2014: 1013
• Sending 640-680 p/year
• Conversion rate steady
• Average 2010 – 2015: 65.7%
• Withdrawal rate steady
• Average 2010 – 2015: 29.4%
-
STUDY: WHY DO STUDENTS WITHDRAW?
• Closed & Open ended questions:
• Program/level of study
• Host university/country
• Stage of application
• Reasons for withdrawal
• “What would have helped you to participate in the exchange program?”
• Survey administered from semester 1, 2013 to present
• Since semester 1, 2013 to present:
• 3,216 students have applied
• 754 students withdrew application*
• 200 survey responses
• Response rate 26.5%
Ethical approval received from BSSERC –University of Queensland
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FINDINGS
94%
6%
Level of Study
Undergraduate Postgraduate
53%
47%
Undergraduate: Single/Dual Degree
Single Dual
-
FINDINGS
37%
46%
18% 19%
5%3%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
W/D
Faculties – Survey Results
Humanities & Social Sciences
Business, Economics & Law
Science
Engineering, Architecture, & IT
Health & Behavioural Sciences
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
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FINDINGS
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
Region
Region
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
2013 2014 2015 2016
Semester Applied
Semester 1 Semester 2
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FINDINGS
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Joined Facebook Provisional
Acceptance
Faculty Approval Full UQ Abroad
Acceptance
Applied to Host Accepted by Host Commenced
Exchange
None
Stage Withdrawn
Stage Withdrawn
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FINDINGS
42.0%
26.0%
7.5%
52.5%
47.5%
15.0%
27.0%
33.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Financial Family Medical Academic Timing Lack of Information Personal Other
Reason Why
Reason Why
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FINDINGS
11.0%
21.0%
18.0%
7.0%8.0%
3.0%
18.0%
14.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
Academic
Academic
Academic Reasons
• Overall 52.5%
“With my dual degree (and lack of electives)
combined with the fact that I'm in my 5th year
of study, made it very hard for me to obtain
equivalent subjects.”
“One of my core courses I had to do wouldn't
allow me to go. Timing was wrong.”
“Found another uni that suits me better, after I
had applied.”
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FINDINGS
Timing Reasons
• Overall 47.5%
27%
24%
34%
15%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Not the right
semester
Timing would
hinder further
studies
Decided to go in
different
semester
Other
Timing
Timing
“Given my career opportunities, the timing is not
right for me to go on exchange, however it may
be more convenient to go in future.”
“Could not guarantee that it wouldn't delay
graduation.”
“Just couldn't get the funds together in time.”
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FINDINGS
3.0%
6.0%
45.0%
5.0%
20.0% 21.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
50.0%
Did not
receive OS-
Help loan
Did not
receive
Scholarship
Could no
longer
afford
Was not
eligible for
Centrelink
Got a job Other
Financial
Financial
Financial Reasons
• Overall 42%
• “Other” responses
• Needing more time to save: 7%
• Financial uncertainty: 2%
“Acceptance letter took a long time, so I
gave up saving.”
“I want to have more money to have a
better time overseas.”
“The dollar dropped significantly and is
expected to keep going.”
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FINDINGS
Personal Reasons
• Overall 27%
• “Other” responses
• Chose alt intn’l experience: 13%
• Changed mind: 13%
• Anxiety/Stress: 9%
• Frustration: 4%0.0%
9.0%
27.0%
11.0%
0.0%
53.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Personal
Personal
“I started getting anxious and thought that this
wasn't how it was supposed to be.”
“I feel happy here and have commitments”
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FINDINGS
Family Reasons
• Overall 26%
16%
29%
23%
12%11%
9%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Family
Family
“My parents were supportive, but I
didn't want to pass them an
additional burden of financially
supporting me on exchange.”
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FINDINGS
Lack of Information Reasons
• Overall 15%24%
15%
11%
16% 16%
11%
7%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Lack of information…
Lack of information…
“These weren't the main reasons, but I found
these 'lack of information' issues as really big
problems and very stressful.”
“All were factors but not final reason.”
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FINDINGS
17.0%
27.0%
17.0%
22.0%
17.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
New personal
medical issue
Existing
personal
medical issue
Medical issue
in family
Following
advice from
doctor
Other
Medical
Medical
Medical Reasons
• Overall 7.5%
“I was constantly questioning
my decision – anxiety.”
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FINDINGS
31.00%
11.00%
2.00%
25.00%
34.00%
20.00%
27.00%
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
Other
Other
Other responses
• 44 open-ended responses
“Going one semester later allows me to save enough
money to have complete financial security to do
everything I wish to do whilst over there, so that I can
take full advantage of the opportunity.”
“Left it a bit late in my degree and did not want to delay
my graduation. I could not be assured enrolment in
specific courses. Due to the limited range of subjects I
had left in my dual degree and the amount of effort I
went to get a faculty approved study plan, I needed to
be guaranteed a place in these specific courses. I was
also accepted into a more convenient overseas program
for credit.”
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FINDINGS
No
37%
Yes/Have
11%
Yes/Will
40%
No response
12%
Do you intend to re-apply?
No Yes/Have Yes/Will No response
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FINDINGS
10.0%
0.5% 0.5%
12.0%
20.0%
40.0%
8.0%
36.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
What would have helped?
What would have helped?
• What would have helped you to participate in the exchange program?
• 173 responses
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FINDINGS
Academics: 12%
•Course matching/approval
•More degree flexibility
•Guaranteed courses
•More course options
•Short term programs
Timing: 20%
• Earlier…
• Planning/Advice
• Course approvals
• Acceptance
• Confirmation of funding
• Visa application
Information: 40%
• More…
• Support from faculties/course approval advice
• Information online
• Support from UQ Abroad
• Course information
• Advice on availability of hosts
• Advice from past students
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WHAT IS NEXT?
• Academics
• Working with Schools/Faculties
• Online advice on availability of hosts
• Timing
• Encourage more forward planning
• Fitting exchange into whole degree/career path
• Withdrawal policy
• Finances
• Availability of scholarships and additional funding
• More advice on budgeting, how to save on exchange
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QUESTIONS?