10. Irish Students Turning First-Year Transition Obstacles into Successful Progression

Vera Sheridan’s account (Ch10), of ‘Irish Students Turning First-Year Transition Obstacles into Successful Progression’, sits within the framework of academic retention and progression but focuses on students who overcome failure after being asked to write a reflective account of their situation for their repeat assessment. The professional input here (visible through the choice of strategy) is understated, but evidenced by the subsequent biographical interviews that capture the student’s problems and the process of overcoming them. Despite its modest claims, this chapter actually presents an empathetic approach that scaffolds a transition from would-be to successful studen