Abstract:

The quality of studies is achieved by supporting the learner’s development and learner-focused approach.

Supporting the learner actually begins before the students are admitted. Counselling/advising directed to the choice of one's future specialty should be started already at the basic school level and continued at the high school level. It is necessary to pay attention to the potential future students, i.e. youngsters at the age of 15 to 19. Thus the academy is offering to the high school students a comprehensive course “Introduction into Aviation Specialties”, a massive open online course (MOOC) “Introduction to Aircraft”, in addition it is possible to participate in school activities as a “student shadow”.

The main primary measure is forming the student candidate's informed choice. Making an informed choice of one’s future specialty is one of the basic prerequisites for later avoiding the interruption of studies.

The secondary measures (for solving problems during the studies at the Academy) should be based on an effective student counselling system. In Estonian Aviation Academy this system is formed of several components - one example of these is the subject course "Student Counselling". The students having taken this course can act as tutors/advisers to other students.

As a result of the continuing development of counselling system, a decreasing tendency in the number of interrupting cases can be observed in Estonian Aviation Academy.

The alumni have an essential role in career counselling. They meet with undergraduates and act as specialty mentors.

In the process of supporting the learner also student feedback has a significant role. The results are discussed in academic departments together with student representatives, analyzed with the teaching staff and, if needed, improvements are suggested. Student satisfaction with the teaching staff is expressed as one of the indicators in the annual activity plan. Students have become more actively involved with their contributions to teaching.

The curricula are continuously updated and upgraded based on the feedback. Students are eager to make their choices themselves - this is encouraged by offering more elective and optional subjects in the curricula. This trend of curriculum development gives more opportunities for passing a mobility semester in other countries.

Estonian Aviation Academy has stipulated its educational objectives in the Academy Development Plan and annual activity plans. One of the main objectives is lowering the number of interrupting cases. The measures for achieving this objective can be divided into preventive activities and activities for finding solutions to problems occurring during the studies.

Supporting the learner’s development is a comprehensive and permanent process motivating the students’ active participation in achieving the learning objectives.

Keywords:

Supporting the learner, learner motivation, informed choice, dropout rate, feedback.