STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF FACTORS SLOWING DOWN THEIR STUDY PROGRESS: THE CASE OF UNIVERSITY OF LAPLAND

Fast graduation, smooth studies, and fluent study progress are the goals of today's university education. How do students themselves perceive their study processes and what do they think about the factors hindering them from succeeding? The purpose of this research was to find out from the first-year-students of one Finnish university their experiences and opinions. The research investigated what the most difficult issues the students have faced during their first year of university studies have been and what factors have hindered their study progress according to their own perceptions. The students (N=186) answered to an internet-based open-ended questionnaire. The data were analysed in a qualitative data-based manner which resulted in seven most frequently mentioned hindrances in the questionnaire data. The main hindrances were deficiencies in study skills, difficulties in adjustment to academic studies, unclear directions in studies, difficulties in making study plans and scheduling, lack of guidance in studies and difficulties in finding help, lack of community, and overlapping courses and busy study periods. Based on the findings, it is possible to pay attention to the difficulties mentioned by students.