Lost in transit: exploring the first-year domestic and international student experience

Research by others has shown that student attitudes and approaches to tertiary learning have significant dependence on their expectations of university study. An aim of the pilot project detailed in this paper is a better understanding of learning issues faced by first-year domestic and international students transitioning from secondary to tertiary education. An anonymous survey of student expectations of both the university environment and their approach to learning during their first year at university was implemented. Over 160 students responded to a series of close-ended questions some of which used a 5-point Likert scale. Analysis of the results indicated that students perceived themselves to be well prepared for teaching styles and learning at university. After one semester of study the majority did not perceive a change in the majority of their learning skills. However, for three of their learning skills, the international students' responses indicated a perceived loss of ability. International students lacked the skill of using problem-solving as a learning tool. These outcomes highlight the need for more targeted orientation of students who are about to commence their tertiary courses.