The University of Sussex takes a collaborative approach to supporting students' transition from school to university. This involves outreach activities with local schools, library skills sessions before starting university, and an online tutorial called Study Success at Sussex (S3) once students arrive. The library has increased sessions for schools, particularly for the Extended Project Qualification. S3 covers study skills, assignments, writing, and budgeting. Positive feedback led library staff and S3 developers to collaborate, providing a cohesive support approach from secondary education through higher education.

1. The student journey: a collaborative approach at the University of
Sussex
Emma Walton, University of Sussex, e.walton@sussex.ac.uk
Suzanne Tatham, University of Sussex, s.tatham@sussex.ac.uk
The poster will illustrate and describe the collaborative approach taken by the
University of Sussex to support the transition of students from school to University,
from widening participation events and Library skills sessions before starting, to
support at the start of their university career via an online tutorial.
The University reaches out to students from schools and colleges across the region
and beyond as part of its widening participation remit through a range of activities
including events, tours and academic, discipline-themed visits. Many different groups
on campus are involved in these activities, including the Library.
The Library has been steadily increasing the number of sessions it runs for schools
and colleges in the region with the largest increase in sessions delivered to support the
EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). Sessions are created with teachers to ensure
they meet the needs of a specific group but selected from a range of set options
including, quizzes, library trails, search skills, a presentation and display aimed at
showing the range of materials found in an academic library and tours.
Support continues once students have arrived via a site called Study Success at Sussex
or S3. This is a study skills resource for all students who are new to the University of
Sussex and aims to help students to prepare for academic life. Sections of the site look
at areas from planning and preparing assignments, writing and reading skills to budget
planning and University jargon. The site is continually developed with the help of
students and uses a range of media to inform and support.
Positive feedback about Library support has encouraged staff who developing S3 to
work collaboratively with us, joining forces to deliver activities thus provides a
cohesive approach to supporting the transition from school to H.E.