Student drop-out in higher education is an increasingly important issue across Europe, but there are substantial disparities between countries and institutions which suggest that variations policies practices may influence student retention success. Numerous schemes have been devised to increase retention, frequently focusing on non-traditional groups. Retention efforts include scholarships bursaries, enhanced monitoring support measures, specialist teams of staff or peer mentors....

Pollution-free stream water and sediments are crucial to support healthy flora fauna, but urban surface runoff impairs quality leaves a legacy of pollution in the sediments. Pollution influences development macroinvertebrates, lowest members food chain, leading modification whole ecological structure. This review focuses on sources impacts zinc, nickel, copper oil derivative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants macroinvertebrates streams. Land use, connectivity sediment seen...

Engaging with interdisciplinary learning during higher education (HE) study can provide students skills and modes of thinking informed by multiple worldviews. Opportunities for in the English HE system are limited; associated primarily postgraduate or later undergraduate stages. This paper reports on an enhancement project that sought to engage first-year learning. Drawing data gathered from staff interviews, student focus groups module enrolments, we examine drivers barriers impacting...

This paper uses phenomenography to identify undergraduates' conceptions of teaching, learning and geography examine whether there are any differences between students in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom States. The shows that several distinct geography. Teaching is seen as either information transfer or helping learning. study finds hold five found by Marton et al. (1993 Marton, F, Dall'alba, G Beaty, E. (1993). Conceptions International Journal Educational Research, 19(3): pp....

Academic research is increasingly driven by assessment exercises (in the UK, Research Excellence Framework, REF). These aim to compare outputs of researchers in each university with those elsewhere, but evaluation efforts have suffered from widespread criticism. The status pedagogic higher education (HE) – once described as 'Cinderella' academia, now an increasing part activity has also prompted some controversy. Both policy-makers and academics raised questions about whether such...

Entry into higher education (HE) is recognised as a challenging time for undergraduates they negotiate the norms and practices of new academic communities foster relationships with peers academics. Given significance this period, our University has piloted four-week module that immerses students in their discipline provides them skills networks to support through period beyond. Here we report comprehensive evaluation examining student experience immersive module. We explore its impact on...

Growing diversity is focusing attention on the range of different student learning styles. This study assesses whether geographers have a predominant style and this varies between within countries. The findings are based over 900 geography students from 12 universities in Australia, New Zealand, UK US, who completed Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI). implications for curriculum design strategies discussed. It suggested that departments should aim to produce balanced learners with full...

There is no previous study of the benefits attending a national multidisciplinary conference dedicated to undergraduate researchers, despite growing number such conferences internationally. This paper addresses gap in knowledge learning gains from these conferences, and reveals student driven process, signature pedagogy. It presents results 90 in-depth interviews with participants conducted over three consecutive years National Conference Undergraduate Research (2012–2014). uniquely captures...

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the undergraduate research conference as its sphere of study and investigate impact significance participation socialisation in such activities student attitudes professional development. Using situated learning theoretically position an authentic context, connection is also made with concept graduate attributes. Design/methodology/approach The Vitae (2014) Researcher Development Framework (RDF) used provide a template for charting experiences development...

Current changes to policy around higher education in the United Kingdom are leading an increasingly marketised system. As funding is transferred from government individual student, universities will be required pay more attention marketing. This paper draws on literature relating marketing of services assess extent which addresses issues covenant, quiddity and representation. Using a mixed sample associated further colleges who provide opportunities, this research investigates strategies...

The status of teaching and learning is an issue those providing supporting higher education grapple with. UK Higher Education Academy offers accreditation aligned to the professional standards framework (PSF). PSF contextualises role learning, a mechanism for individuals' commitment be recognised. Here, we present case-study 19 established academics who reflected on their experiences gaining recognition through university's scheme. Respondents prioritised institutional structures outcomes...

Four design tool procedures are examined to create improved neural network architectures for forecasting runoff from a small catchment. Different algorithms used remove nodes and connections so as produce an optimised model, thereby reducing computational expense without loss in performance. The results also highlight issues selecting analytical methods compare outputs different procedures.

Abstract This study evaluates two (of the many) modelling approaches to flood forecasting for an upland catchment (the River South Tyne at Haydon Bridge, England). The first approach utilizes ‘traditional’ hydrological models. It consists of a rainfall–runoff model probability distributed model, or PDM) flow simulation in upper catchment. Those flows are then routed lower using kinematic wave (KW) routing When run forecast‐mode, PDM and KW models utilize updating procedures. second uses...

Summary For slope stability estimations, the soil pore-water conditions need to be accurately specified. The influence of cracks in clay was previously observed significantly modify water response. In this study shrinkage were monitored a embankment where response precipitation had been shown more rapid than micro-permeability would predict. increase hydraulic conductivity at all times year and cause potential responses monitored. X-ray examinations closed crack sites indicated that...

The professionalisation of teaching is increasing importance in UK higher education due to converging processes including the proliferation managerialism, quality agendas and changes student fee structures. These have brought into sharp relief need for greater understanding how evolves university settings. One key element this involves academic development its impacts on learning. Current literature suggests that a plethora ideas, frameworks instruments claiming best practice exist but...

Abstract. This paper defines the spectrum of impairment to stream macroinvertebrates arising from urban runoff. Field sampling sediments at 62 sites across Yorkshire, UK was used investigate influence heavy metals and habitat on macroinvertebrate family distribution using partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis (pCCA). Increasing urbanization trafficking associated with increasing levels metal pollution but, even when traffic is light, numbers can be reduced by 50%. Industrial areas...

Abstract This research started from the premise that (a) employability is an internationally accepted concept with a confusion of interpretations and definitions; (b) insight into variation in understanding teaching would benefit geography curriculum development. Consequently, views co-authors Italy, United Kingdom, States, Chile, Estonia, Greece Spain were sought to develop international its position higher education curriculum. Discussion shows definitions implications are varied. There...

Abstract Prior to the occurrence of a shallow surface slip on clay embankment tensiometer system was installed continuously monitor pore water conditions. It is shown that high pressures can develop in embankments after periods continuous low intensity precipitation. Using stability analyses it demonstrated for this first time slide, fill material had shear strength above residual values and small but finite cohesion.

This paper reviews the opportunities and challenges for re-framing purpose, process, product assessment of final-year geography dissertations. It argues that academic centralities critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, effective communication independence must be retained, but traditional format limits creativity innovation. Re-imagining capstone projects has implications students, faculty, departments institutions, greater diversity could enhance its relevance to students employers,...