Outputs (16)

Direct entrants as route guides to the higher education landscape (2022)
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.

Transactional distance in the context of online and blended learning (2022)
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.

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 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.

Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education (2019)
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? (2019)
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?.

"We're coming from different worlds" : exploring student identity during transition (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Varey, A., & Cairncross, S. (2018, December). "We're coming from different worlds" : exploring student identity during transition. Presented at SRHE Newer and Early Career Conference 2018, Newport, Wales

This study presents empirical work examining the student journey from further to higher education in computing degrees in Scotland and seeks to understand the complex formation of identity, from the student perspective, during transition. In Scotlan... Read More about "We're coming from different worlds" : exploring student identity during transition.

STEM Apprenticeship Degrees: Motivations and aspirations of apprentices (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., Smith, C., & Varey, A. (2018, June). STEM Apprenticeship Degrees: Motivations and aspirations of apprentices. Paper presented at Horizons in STEM Higher Education, Hull

Using the Apprenticeship Levy, England piloted Degree Apprenticeships in 2014 and Scotland followed with Graduate Apprenticeships in 2017. In Scotland, the apprenticeships are determined by employer demand for skills and delivered by universities. Gr... Read More about STEM Apprenticeship Degrees: Motivations and aspirations of apprentices.

A Comparative Study of Transitional Support: Identifying Best Practice (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Marr, S., & Meharg, D. (2017, June). A Comparative Study of Transitional Support: Identifying Best Practice. Presented at 3rd International Enhancement in Higher Education Conference, Glasgow, Scotland

This study shares the findings of a comparative case study, examining support for students transitioning from further education institutes (FEIs) to advanced entry in university. This case study compares transition support in two different subject ar... Read More about A Comparative Study of Transitional Support: Identifying Best Practice.

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.

Partnership and preparation: a new model of transition from college to university (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., & Fotheringham, J. (2014, April). Partnership and preparation: a new model of transition from college to university. Presented at Attainment for All: Inclusivity, Diversity and Success in LTHE: First Annual Conference on Equality and Diversity in Teaching and Learning in Scottish Higher Education, Glasgow

Widening participation in higher education continues to be a key focus for Scottish government and the 2013 Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act places obligations upon Universities to achieve progress in this regard. The Act also makes provision for Add... Read More about Partnership and preparation: a new model of transition from college to university.

Building confidence during transition from college to university (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Tizard, J., Varey, A., & Cairncross, S. (2015, September). Building confidence during transition from college to university. Paper presented at British Educational Research Association, Belfast

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.

Widening access through transition from college to university (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., & Tizard, J. (2015, February). Widening access through transition from college to university. Presented at The Social Dimension in European Higher Education, Vienna, Austria

Widening access through transition from College to University In Scotland, one strategy for increasing participation at university for people from deprived socio-economic areas is to provide academic pathways from vocational courses at college to uni... Read More about Widening access through transition from college to university.