EADTU Staff Training Event | Support Services in Open & Distance Education

1. 1
Students’ retention at UniDistance
Céline Pellissier / Student Manager

2. 2
Content
 Background information
 Study success (& drop out)
 Two findings on the topic retention / drop out
 We stopped presence meetings
 Admission 25+ program

3. 3
Backgroud info : Who are we ?
 Distance university (not an open university)
 2200 students
 Level of Study Bachelor programmes 1850
Master programmes 350
 Language German 49%
French 47%
English 4%
 Gender Women 1450
Men 750
 Age ø 38 years

4. 4
Teaching model
 Blended learning – asynchronous & synchronous learning activities
 Online classes and exams
 Teaching teams (professor and assistant-s) in every module
 2 modules per semester (20 ECTS)
 Bachelor programmes 9 semesters
 Master programmes 5-6 semesters

5. 5

6. 6
Study success (& drop out) – Bachelor programmes
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
A04 S05 A05 S06 A06 S07 A07 S08 A08 S09 A09 S10 A10 S11 A11 S12 A12 S13 A13 S14 A14 S15 A15 S16 A16 S17 A17 S18 A18 S19 A19 S20 A20 S21 A21 S22 A22 S23 A23 S24
CURRENT STATUS OF STUDENTS (SPRING 2024), DEPENDING ON THE
SEMESTER OF ENTRY - BACHELOR PROGRAMMES
Graduates Students Drop outs

7. 7
Study success (& drop out) – Master programmes
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
A14 S15 A15 S16 A16 S17 A17 S18 A18 S19 A19 S20 A20 S21 A21 S22 A22 S23 A23 S24
CURRENT STATUS OF STUDENTS (SPRING 2024), DEPENDING ON THE
SEMESTER OF ENTRY - MASTER PROGRAMMES
Graduates Students Drop outs

8. 8
1. We stopped presence meetings
5 presence meetings per module and semester until March 2020
COVID lockdown
5 online meetings and online exams
And what happened ?
All key figures remained absolutely unchainged:
exam inscription rate
exam success rate
drop out rate

9. 9
2. Admission 25+
Admission programme without matura (high school diploma) to
enter Bachelor studies
2-step admission programme
1. full application file
2. 8-months individual learning programme and exams in May
 Launched in 2019
 432 candidates – pass rate 23% (101 candidates)
Admission what ?

10. 10
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
A19 S20 A20 S21 A21 S22 A22 S23 A23 S24
ACCESS WITH ADMISSION 25+
Graduates Students Drop outs
Consequences on our drop out rates – part 1
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
A19 S20 A20 S21 A21 S22 A22 S23 A23 S24
ACCESS WITH DIPLOMA
Graduates Students Drop outs

11. 11
Consequences on our drop out rates – part 2
 Drop out rate is dramatically lower for 25+ students than for students
entering with diploma : (14% vs. 52% during observed period)
 Students coming from Admission 25+:
 Can prepare independently for exams
 Can muster the necessary motivation to learn
 Have greater autonomy
 Have organised their everyday lives to fit the demands of studying.