Academic Counseling as a Pro-Active Retention Initiative at Open University Malaysia (OUM)
A major challenge of open and distance learning (ODL) institutions, such as Open University Malaysia (OUM), is the high learner attrition rate. In this regard, OUM had initiated a number of interventions in trying to minimize this rate. One such intervention is academic counseling where Tutor Cou...
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Published: |
2006
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| Online Access: | http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/94/1/Acad_Counseling_-seaair06.paper.pdf http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/94/ |
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| Institution: | Open University Malaysia |
| Summary: | A major challenge of open and distance learning (ODL) institutions, such as Open University
Malaysia (OUM), is the high learner attrition rate. In this regard, OUM had initiated a number of
interventions in trying to minimize this rate. One such intervention is academic counseling where
Tutor Counselors, conduct face-to-face counseling sessions for “at risk” learners. This paper
reports on the success of academic counseling conducted for “at risk” learners in two successive
semesters at OUM. In terms of academic performance, a higher percentage of learners in the
treatment group experienced an improvement in their CGPAs (54.0%) as compared to those of
the control group (27.7%). In addition, 15.6% of learners in the treatment group achieved a
CGPA>2.0, compared to only 6.7% of those in the control group. In terms of learner persistence,
71.5% of learners in the treatment group of September 2005 semester reregistered in January
2006 semester as compared to 42.2% of those in the control group. The study found that the
reasons that influence learners’ academic performance are time management, work demands,
lack of study skills, lack of proficiency in Mathematics and English, family and financial
commitments. The study also indicated that “at risk” learners tend to exhibit an attitude of
indifference towards their academic performance. |
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