Student Success - Access, retention, attainment and progression

This area of focus is based upon the literature review 'Access, retention, attainment and progression: an integrative review of demonstrable impact on student outcomes', conducted by a research team from Sheffield Hallam University.

In this introductory blog, Dr Rebecca Hodgson and Dr Liz Austen share some insights into the research team’s approach and findings.

Conducted by a research team from Sheffield Hallam University consisting of Dr Liz Austen, Head of Evaluation and Research, Dr Rebecca Hodgson, Associate Dean Teaching and Learning, Dr Jill Dickinson, Senior Lecturer, Evaluation and Teaching and Learning (Secondment), Caroline Heaton, Senior Lecturer (Research, Evaluation and Student Engagement), and Nathaniel Pickering, Lecturer (Research, Evaluation and Student Engagement), this literature review aims to highlight evidence-based policy or practice that has had a demonstrable impact on student outcomes, including impact on progression, engagement, satisfaction, skill acquisition and/or self-confidence and student degree classification.

In this episode, Nathaniel Pickering joins Caroline Heaton, who principally researched the aspects of the literature review focusing on access, to discuss the complex picture of measuring impact in this area.

In this episode, Dr Liz Austen is joined by Dr Rebecca Hodgson, who principally researched the retention area of the literature review.

In this episode, Dr Jill Dickinson and Dr Liz Austen discuss the links between retention and attainment, pedagogical approaches to supporting student success, and evidence pertaining to the online learning context.

In this episode, Dr Rebecca Hodgson is joined by Dr Liz Austen, who principally researched the progression area of the literature review.

During this November 2021 webinar, authors from Sheffield Hallam University discussed the context, themes and key findings of their recent Advance HE publication: Access, Retention, Attainment, and Progression: An Integrative Review of Demonstrable Impact on Student Outcomes.

With consideration to our 2021 literature review of practices and policies in access, retention, attainment and progression, this summit offered an opportunity for experts to consider recommendations for the higher education sector across the whole student lifecycle and create a space to consider lessons learned in addition to positive impacts. The summit identified how the focus areas of access, retention, attainment, and progression are interwoven and could be further aligned to the Student Success Framework series.