Building a better understanding of the learning community of postgraduate coursework students.

Abstract

Much has been written about the learning community of undergraduate students and what universities can do to support their satisfaction, achievement and retention. More recently there has also been a developing focus on the learning community of research higher degree students. However the learning community comprised of postgraduate coursework students has received much less attention. Th is paper seeks to explore the characteristics of an Education faculty learning community of postgraduate coursework students with a view to developing a more supportive learning environment for these students that enhances their satisfaction, achievement and retention. Data for this paper are drawn from a survey and analysed using statistical and thematic analytical methods. Th e paper fi nds that while these students share some characteristics with other communities of learners, particularly mature-age and part-time learners, they have a particular set of needs that requires institutional understanding if outcomes for these learners are to be maximised.