Learning From Those Who Left: Student Retention at an Irish University

Abstract

Retention research in Ireland is a relatively recent development. This article summarises the findings of the most recent retention research undertaken at University College Dublin in Ireland (Blaney & Mulkeen, 2008). The research consisted of a data mining exercise and a postal survey to students who had officially withdrawn from the university. This project aimed to update the university‟s retention statistics and specifically look at how a student‟s experience of Orientation may impact his or her experience of student life. This article is a synopsis of a report titled “Student Retention in a Modular World” co-authored with Susan Mulkeen and published by University College Dublin in 2008.