Retention and Writing at NUIG: a three year project to be carried out at the AWC

We are delighted to announce that a three-year project on Retention and Writing at NUIG led by Dr Irina Ruppo at the Academic Writing Centre has been given funding  under the Student Project Fund scheme.

Retention and Writing at NUIG adopts a two-pronged approach wherein research into writing
and retention is combined with support for students over the summer months.

This model was adopted for three weeks in the summer of 2018, and for six weeks in the
summer of 2019, thanks to the support of the Student Services and from the Dean of Students respectively.  So far we have developed an approach to examine the connection between writing problems and retention issues, administered a survey to NUIG students, and analysed the data, while also providing summer writing support to postgraduate students and students preparing for repeat exams.

At this point, we have the data to suggest a possible connection between writing problems and related to retention issues. The current project aims to follow up on the data and to examine whether writing problems and retention issues can be addressed through the teaching of a more productive approach to the writing process.

The current stage of the project involves a literature review on retention factors and writing support interventions and the collation and publication of the results of the survey.

As part of the project, students are now able to avail of the services of the AWC for six weeks from 6 July until 26 August.  This support is provided via Blackboard collaborate, Zoom, over the phone, and by email.



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