Examples from study environments

If you have a good example of how you have incorporated the following into your studies, please contact AAU Student Guidance.

Why follow up on students after study start?

When it comes to drop-out, the focus is often on the start of studies. However, the numbers show that many programmes have a continuous drop-out rate throughout the first year of study. It is therefore also important to follow the new students closely after the start of their studies and initiate follow-up individually or as more joint initiatives if the need arises.

Through follow-up, the programme supports (as needed) the students in being able to tackle challenges that are not academic or social, but which are related to the student's progress on the programme. For example, problems with exam anxiety or problems with stress and overload, for example due to underlying problems with prioritizing literature/sources or being able to plan and structure one's study time.

It may also be decisions to opt out of exams due to problems with prioritization and time management, etc.

Specific activities can be:

• Conversations with students.
• Ongoing status meetings with teams with systematic collection of things that need to be handled.
• Reference to the guidance functions at AAU.
• Follow-up on tools.
• Presentations on communication and collaboration, etc. relevant to group and project work.
• Workshop om motivation.
  
  

Please reflect on the following before planning follow-up:

• Is it clear to the individual student what expectations the programme has for self-study and examinations?
• Does the student know how to get the most out of the activities of the degree program?
• Is there a need to refer to support functions at AAU?
• Is additional support needed?
• How do we spot students early on who have challenges mastering the programme?
  
  

If you want to know more

The head of studies is responsible for the initiative, while the semester coordinator, VIP, student counsellor and local TAP are the performers.