Instructions for staff leading an activity. Designed to be used alongside ‘Avoiding and overcoming setbacks: Student worksheet’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student worksheet for activity. Designed to be used alongside ‘Avoiding and overcoming setbacks: Session instructions’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

This report explores the concept of critical self-reflection as one important transition skill that students would benefit from developing during their university studies. It begins with a discussion of the different terms that have been used interchangeably with critical self-reflection, thereafter offers a definition of what is meant by critical self-reflection, and then presents an overview of why critical self-reflection is important in the context of student transitions. The importance of critical self-reflection at key transition points is also discussed. As in the in-depth exploration of self-efficacy, transition points are viewed as: pre-transition, shock and adjustment and progression. Finally, the report recommends a number of practical strategies which can help students develop their reflective skills. Also identified are the potential challenges in developing critical self-reflection. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Slides for staff leading an interactive session. Designed to be used alongside ‘Encouraging self-reflection: Student worksheet’, ‘Identifying levels of writing: Student handout’, ‘Structured journal entry: Student worksheet’, ‘Less structured journal entry: Student worksheet’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student activity. Can be used as part of interactive presentation alongside ‘Critical self-reflection: Session slides’, ‘Identifying levels of writing: Student handout’, ‘Structured journal entry: Student worksheet’, and ‘Less structured journal entry: Student worksheet’. Can also be used in isolation as part of another activity, or independently by students. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student activity. Can be used as part of interactive presentation alongside ‘Critical self-reflection: Session slides’, ‘Encouraging self-reflection: Student worksheet’, ‘Structured journal entry: Student worksheet’, and ‘Less structured journal entry: Student worksheet’. Can also be used in isolation as part of another activity, or independently by students. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student activity. Can be used as part of interactive presentation alongside ‘Critical self-reflection: Session slides’, ‘Encouraging self-reflection: Student worksheet’, ‘Identifying levels of writing: Student handout’, and ‘Less structured journal entry: Student worksheet’. Can also be used in isolation as part of another activity, or independently by students. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student activity. Can be used as part of interactive presentation alongside ‘Critical self-reflection: Session slides’, ‘Encouraging self-reflection: Student worksheet’, ‘Identifying levels of writing: Student handout’, and ‘Structured journal entry: Student worksheet’. Can also be used in isolation as part of another activity, or independently by students. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student-facing leaflet, explaining basic principles of critical self-reflection and signposting to further resources. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Instructions for staff leading an activity. Designed to be used alongside ‘Mindset student activities: Student worksheet’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student worksheet for activity. Designed to be used alongside ‘Mindset student activities: Session instructions’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Instructions for staff leading an activity. Designed to be used alongside ‘Mindset card sort activity: cards’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Cards to customise, print and cut out for card sorting exercise. Designed to be used alongside ‘Mindset card sort activity: Session instructions’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

This report aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the concept of self-efficacy in the context of student transitions. Self-efficacy is one key transition skill that students would benefit from developing, as suggested in ‘Key Transition Skills’, which compiled a number of evidence-based key skills. The current report begins with a definition of key terms followed by an illustration of the role of self-efficacy at different transition points. Three different contexts: academic study, social life and future career are used to conceptualise the various transitions in and through higher education; moreover the literature points to these three transitions as types of self-efficacy. In addition, to maintain consistency with the subsequent in-depth exploration of critical self-reflection, the role of self-efficacy at four transition points (pre-transition, shock, adjustment and progression) are also considered. Finally, the report also presents a number of strategies, which students and staff can use to develop and strengthen skills in self-efficacy. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Prompt for student activity. Designed to be used independently by students, but can also be used as part of an activity. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Prompt for student activity. Designed to be used independently by students, but can also be used as part of an activity. Can also be used alongside ‘Current levels of self-belief: Student activity’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Slides for staff leading an interactive session. Designed to be used alongside ‘Establishing and achieving my goals (with vision board)’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student worksheet for activity. Designed to be used alongside ‘Self-management of expectations: Session slides’, but can also be used independently by students. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Prompt for student activity. Designed to be used independently by students, but can also be used as part of an activity. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student-facing leaflet, explaining self-management of expectations and signposting to further resources. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Slides for staff leading an interactive session. Designed to be used alongside ‘Baseline time tracker: Student worksheet’ and ‘Time management grid: Student worksheet’. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student activity. Can be used as part of interactive presentation alongside ‘Managing self-study time, prioritising and planning: Session slides’ and ‘Time management grid: Student worksheet’. Can also be used in isolation as part of another activity, or independently by students. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student activity. Can be used as part of interactive presentation alongside ‘Managing self-study time, prioritising and planning: Session slides’ and ‘Baseline time tracker: Student worksheet’. Can also be used in isolation as part of another activity, or independently by students. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

Student-facing leaflet, explaining basic principles of time management and signposting to further resources. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

The following report presents a summary of the environmental, financial, social and academic changes which occur during the transition 'into' and 'through' higher education as well as potential challenges which may be experienced. Thereafter, an overview of some of the current models of transition which exist in the literature are presented. These models were selected based on their relevance to student transitions in higher education. When considered together, these models are useful for understanding the numerous changes experienced by students during their transitions into and through higher education. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

This report will identify and present eight key transition skills and the relevant strategies which are considered important in enhancing and developing these skills. These skills and strategies are based on findings in published research studies. The literature review draws on existing research on student transitions and considers examples of good practice within higher education institutions as well as in published reports by external agencies investigating the student transition experience. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).

In this report, key transition points are based on the stages identified as common to the various transition models (see report titled, 'Transition Models and How Students Experience Change' for an overview of a number of student transition models). This report will summarise transition points as four key transition stages: pre-transition, shock, adjustment and progression. A list of the key skills which may be particularly beneficial for students will be identified at each of these transition points. The Transitions Skills and Strategies project was completed as part of the Student Transitions Enhancement Theme (2014-2017).