Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

All Outputs (30)

'A journey that motivates': Discovering the associate student experience (2022)
Thesis
Meharg, D. 'A journey that motivates': Discovering the associate student experience. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. Retrieved from http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2951063

Higher education has seen huge growth in the past two decades with degree study becoming an anticipated next step after high school. But access to higher education is still riddled with inequality, and society is calling for equal access for all. The... Read More about 'A journey that motivates': Discovering the associate student experience.

Identifying factors influencing study skills engagement and participation for online learners in higher education during Covid-19 (2022)
Journal Article
Fabian, K., Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., & Meharg, D. (2022). Identifying factors influencing study skills engagement and participation for online learners in higher education during Covid-19. British Journal of Educational Technology, 53(6), 1915-1936. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13221

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted education across the world as campuses closed to restrict the spread of the virus. UK universities swiftly migrated to online delivery. The experiences of students and staff during this transition can inform our return... Read More about Identifying factors influencing study skills engagement and participation for online learners in higher education during Covid-19.

An Online Approach to the Associate Transition Programme – What Works? (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Fabian, K., Mooney, C., Harkness, R., & Qadir, N. (2021, July). An Online Approach to the Associate Transition Programme – What Works?. Presented at The 9th European Conference on Education, Online

As education continues to be interrupted, we must now consider how we support our wider student body, our associate and direct-entry students. This paper presents empirical work exploring the impact of moving interventions to support the transition... Read More about An Online Approach to the Associate Transition Programme – What Works?.

Associate Student Project: Facilitating computing students’ transition to higher education (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., Fabian, K., & Varey, A. (2021, March). Associate Student Project: Facilitating computing students’ transition to higher education. Presented at Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2021, Online

The Associate Student (ASP) project supports Computing students who study two years at a Further Education college (achieving an HND) then transfer directly into third year, studying for two more years to complete an honours degree (BSc or BEng). Stu... Read More about Associate Student Project: Facilitating computing students’ transition to higher education.

Earn as you learn: Widening participation through apprenticeships as debt-free degrees (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., & Khristin, F. (2021, March). Earn as you learn: Widening participation through apprenticeships as debt-free degrees. Presented at Advance HE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2021, Online

Apprenticeship Degrees provide opportunities to study for a degree without incurring debt. Collaborations between employers and HEIs enable new or established employees to earn while they learn, with their fees paid. This facilitates people to study... Read More about Earn as you learn: Widening participation through apprenticeships as debt-free degrees.

An exploration of degree apprentice perspectives: A Q methodology study (2021)
Journal Article
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2022). An exploration of degree apprentice perspectives: A Q methodology study. Studies in Higher Education, 47(7), 1397-1409. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2021.1897094

Degree apprenticeships have recently been introduced in the UK, representing a significant shift in approaches to degree-level study: from traditional models of higher education to workplaces as locations for learning. As the model matures it is impo... Read More about An exploration of degree apprentice perspectives: A Q methodology study.

Enhancing learning confidence for direct entry computing students (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2018, December). Enhancing learning confidence for direct entry computing students. Paper presented at The Changing Shape of Higher Education: Can excellence and inclusion cohabit?, Newport, UK

Previous studies have shown that students who transfer into university from college (direct entrants) face several challenges when they enter university. In response, the Associate Student Project supports students who enter university directly into... Read More about Enhancing learning confidence for direct entry computing students.

Transitioning cohorts: A comparative study of best practice in supporting direct entrant students to make a successful transition from FE college to advanced years in university (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., & Marr, S. (2017, July). Transitioning cohorts: A comparative study of best practice in supporting direct entrant students to make a successful transition from FE college to advanced years in university. Presented at HEA Annual Conference 2017 Generation TEF: Teaching in the spotlight, Manchester

No abstract available.

Belonging: Blurring the Boundaries (2017)
Journal Article
Meharg, D., Craighill, S., Varey, A., & Cairncross, S. (2017). Belonging: Blurring the Boundaries. Scottish Educational Review, 49(1), 89-103

This paper applies Whitchurch’s (2008) concept of the ‘third space’ to the emergent territory occupied by further education college students as they ‘cross the boundary’ to continue their studies at the university. Findings reveal that these transiti... Read More about Belonging: Blurring the Boundaries.

An Enhanced Route from FE to HE Graduation? (2017)
Journal Article
Meharg, D., Taylor-Smith, E., Varey, A., Mooney, C., & Dallas, S. (2017). An Enhanced Route from FE to HE Graduation?. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 5(2), 85-92. https://doi.org/10.14297/jpaap.v5i2.269

This study explores student transitions from further (FE) to higher (HE) education through the Associate Student Project (ASP) and examines the effectiveness of this enhanced transition programme for direct entry students. Universities are expected t... Read More about An Enhanced Route from FE to HE Graduation?.

'I hope we can handle it': A study examining student ability beliefs and motivations before transition (2016)
Journal Article
Meharg, D., Craighill, S., Varey, A., & Tizard, J. (2016). 'I hope we can handle it': A study examining student ability beliefs and motivations before transition. Education in the North, 23(2), 128-140

This paper employs the ‘Expectancy-Value Model of Achievement Motivation’ (Wigfield and Eccles, 2000) to identify performance barriers and facilitators for further education students continuing their studies at university. Using this model to unders... Read More about 'I hope we can handle it': A study examining student ability beliefs and motivations before transition.

Student voice and peer support during transition (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Tizard, J., & Varey, A. (2015, June). Student voice and peer support during transition. Paper presented at QAA Enhancement Themes, Glasgow

Despite increased investment in transition between further education and higher education during the last 10 years, direct entrants remain less likely to take an active part in class, less likely to feel part of the academic community, and also less... Read More about Student voice and peer support during transition.

The shifting goalposts of Digital Technology Skills in Scotland
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., & Tungli, T. (2023, December). The shifting goalposts of Digital Technology Skills in Scotland. Presented at SRHE International Conference 2023, Birmingham, UK

Digital technologies and skills are critical to economic growth and embedded in everyday life 1. This paper presents a work-in-progress study that examines the effect of education policy on digital skills within Scotland. Through literature analysis,... Read More about The shifting goalposts of Digital Technology Skills in Scotland.

Transactional distance in the context of online and blended learning
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Fabian, K., Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., & Meharg, D. (2022, September). Transactional distance in the context of online and blended learning. Paper presented at Association for Learning Technology Annual Conference, Manchester

Moore’s (1993) transactional distance theory recognises that communications and psychological distance between learner and teacher are affected by course structure, dialogue between lecturers and students, and learner’s autonomy. These factors affect... Read More about Transactional distance in the context of online and blended learning.

Direct entrants as route guides to the higher education landscape
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., & Fabian, K. (2022, December). Direct entrants as route guides to the higher education landscape. Presented at Mobilities in Higher Education: SRHE International Conference 2022, Online

Students who study for an HND at further education college and then join the university directly into the 3 rd year of their honours degree are a valuable segment of our academic community. This route provides opportunities for more people to gain HE... Read More about Direct entrants as route guides to the higher education landscape.

COVID-19, Students and the New Educational Landscape
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Siegel, A. A., Zarb, M., Anderson, E., Crane, B., Gao, A., Latulipe, C., Lovellette, E., McNeill, F., & Meharg, D. (2022, July). COVID-19, Students and the New Educational Landscape. Presented at ITiCSE 2022: Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, Dublin, Ireland

Students have experienced incredible shifts in the in their learning environments, brought about by the response of universities to the ever-changing public health mandates driven by waves and stages of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Initially,... Read More about COVID-19, Students and the New Educational Landscape.

Exploring Out-of-Classroom Activities for Students with Disabilities: Implications for Employability Skills Development
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Tungli, T., & Meharg, D. (2024, September). Exploring Out-of-Classroom Activities for Students with Disabilities: Implications for Employability Skills Development. Presented at The 4th Transdisciplinary Workplace Research (TWR) Conference, Edinburgh, UK

The inclusion of students with disabilities in tertiary education is rising globally, however research on their participation in out-of-classroom activities remains limited. This paper investigates the significance of out-of-classroom engagement for... Read More about Exploring Out-of-Classroom Activities for Students with Disabilities: Implications for Employability Skills Development.

Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2019, September). Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education. Presented at 1st UK & Ireland Computing Education Research Conference (UKICER), Canterbury, United Kingdom

Students who progress to higher education from further education colleges are faced with academic, social, and logistical challenges during their transition. In general, they find university life more challenging compared to students who have been at... Read More about Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education.

Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer?
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., Fabian, K., Berg, T., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2019, July). Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer?. Presented at Innovation & Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE’19), Aberdeen, Scotland

This paper describes a study investigating whether apprenticeship computing degrees in Scotland are attracting additional entrants who will become IT professionals and fill a skills need. Government policy reports, from around the world, set out plan... Read More about Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer?.