There has been a good deal of activity in the sector around improving these early experiences in recent years and several useful projects have emerged. For example the STAR (Student Transition and Retention) project includes an induction ‘audit tool’ and a series of case studies of induction processes at other UK HE institutions.

At MMU the Student Induction and Transition project has produced a framework for the management of the process expressed as a series of student entitlements. This document aims to provide a planning tool for staff for the design of induction and transition processes.

The student experience of induction and transition

Several projects at MMU have collected data on the student experience of induction and transition, notably the Shock Absorber and a survery done by the MMU Students Union.

It is well established that for students, induction is mainly about getting to know people and feeling a sense of belonging to the university.

This process is often referred to in the literature (particularly that relating to retention and attrition) as ‘social and academic integration’. For students this means the induction period needs to offer opportunities to make meaningful contact with both academic staff and of course, other students.

Feedback from students suggests that:

• Induction should be seen as a process (over days, weeks or months) not as an event;
• Information should be ‘drip-fed’ over a period of time rather than given all at once;
• Pre-entry contact can be useful in beginning the social and academic integration process;
• Attempts of academic departments to organise some kind of social activity are much appreciated. This can range from the very simple – e.g. coffee and biscuits, through an organised bowling trip to a residential field visit.

Sometimes the simplest social events(e.g. coffee and biscuits) may be the best option as this addresses concerns around inclusivity (e.g. students with caring responsibility may not be able to take a particular night off or go away on a residential visit); or cost: it may exclude some students if a charge is made; or a presumed lack of interest: not all students will want to participate, but those who do may be the very students who need to have some structure in order to make social contacts and may benefit enormously from the opportunity.