- Title
- Students' Experiences of university and an Australian social work program: coming, going, staying
- Creator
- Agllias, Kylie; Howard, Amanda; Cliff, Kynan; Dodds, Jessica; Field, Amanda
- Relation
- Australian Social Work Vol. 69, Issue 4, p. 468-480
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2015.1090464
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2016
- Description
- Student engagement, retention, and professional commitment is strongly influenced during the early stages of the university experience. However, a number of factors can undermine engagement, which has implications for the individual, the professional workforce, and university funding and reputation. This paper reports on cooperative inquiry research that explored the beginning experiences of 17 social work students from one regional Australian university. In-depth, qualitative data were collected during six discussions that focused on understanding the experiences that influenced university retention, enjoyment, and success. Data analysis revealed three primary themes: (i) purpose and timing, (ii) balancing commitments, and (iii) a sense of belonging. Findings suggested that students often struggled to balance life, work, and family commitments, while appreciating university processes that reduced stressors and contributed to a sense of belonging.
- Subject
- social work students; first year student experience; qualitative research; retention
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1343658
- Identifier
- uon:29237
- Identifier
- ISSN:0312-407X
- Language
- eng
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