An Initial Evaluation of Student Withdrawals within an e-Learning Environment: The Case of e-College Wales
Paul Jones, Gary Packham, Christopher Miller and Amanda Jones, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Wales, UK, www.glam.ac.uk/bus/, wpjones1@glam.ac.uk

ABSTRACT

The proliferation of e-Learning programmes on offer within the UK raises critical issues that have yet to be fully addressed in terms of the nature of learning, effective pedagogy, learning expectations and student profile. The amalgamation and influence of these factors is also having an impact upon student retention. This paper examines student withdrawals associated with the online BA Enterprise programme initiative designed by the University of Glamorgan, which aims to help improve the entrepreneurial capacity of Wales. Utilising content analysis of student questionnaires at one of the University’s delivery partners, eight prime cases for student withdrawal were identified including factors such as technical problems, pressure of work and lack of time. The paper concludes by identifying strategies to manage these barriers to e-Learning.

Keywords: e-Learning, retention, withdrawal, student motivation