Addressing student retention and engagement using new technology.

Abstract

A range of strategies to improve retention and progression of Biomedical Science students at De Montfort University (DMU) implemented in 2016/17 included: an intensive induction week with social/networking events involving academics; an increment in the number of lectures and tutorials on STEM topics; the creation of regular drop-in sessions for each module. These strategies might have translated into a trend in the reduction of the percentage of students that failed in year 1, due to academic circumstances, from 19% in 2014/15 to 9.6% in 2016/17. More actions being developed include creation of a complete website covering fundamental biology and chemistry.