Interface in progress [All downloadable files are up-to date]
Bounce Back: Smarter Study Strategies
All students are invited to join this short course (3 x lunchtimes) to assist them in topics related to taking exams and succeeding in passing courses. However, students who are struggling (failing modules) can be particularly encouraged to come along by addressing them specifically.
If lecturers feel the use of the term “high potential” or a “student with potential” can be used rather than identifying them as failing students, this may be helpful, but all email invitations should be authentic.
General information
| Related discipline, field or programme | Discipline: Any Field: Any Programme: Any |
| Type of supported integration | Academic Integration, Social Integration |
| Type of intervention | Micro intervention Course and Teaching Strategies Gamification and Technology Installing Learning Communities Social Support and Mentoring Summer School Mindset Orientation Program |
| Target audience | All students can be invited to attend, but it is particularly targeted towards students who have failed some modules in first semester. |
| Number of students | 20 students would be appropriate to help them engage with each other and to provide Individual assistance. |
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Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Campus Compass
Interactive tour on campus, where students have to find their way on the campus in small teams. Each team follows a predetermined route with several stations. At each station, teams have to solve a riddle or Multiple choice question related to university life. Each answer produces a character. At the end of the tour, each team has to construct a meaningful word using all characters. Only with the right answers, you can compose the final long word. The winning team will be randomly selected from all teams that succeeded in using all characters , and this winning team gets a prize.
General information
| Related discipline, field or programme | Discipline: Any Field: Any Programme: Any |
| Type of supported integration | Academic Integration, Social Integration |
| Type of intervention | Orientation Program |
| Target audience | New first year students |
| Number of students | Teams of 6 students. Ideally, no more than 10 teams do the Campus Compass simultaneously |
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Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Getting Started Guide
This intervention describes a “Getting Started Guide” which in line with Universal Design Principles could be created in document and verbal or video form. The intervention describes the key components of what should be in the guide and provides an example of a guide which has been drafted.
It should be a resource that only contains sufficient information to get through the first two weeks, specifically relevant to the students on a particular course. Where they need to be, who the lecturer is and what they need to bring.
General information
| Related discipline, field or programme | Discipline: Any Field: Any Programme: Any |
| Type of supported integration | Academic Integration, Social Integration |
| Type of intervention | Micro intervention Course and Teaching Strategies Gamification and Technology Installing Learning Communities Social Support and Mentoring Summer School Mindset Orientation Program |
| Target audience | All students on a particular course will be sent and given access to the Getting Started guide relevant to that course. |
| Number of students | N/A |
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Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Goal Setting Reflection and Self Regulation
This is a programme which introduces the concepts of goal setting and reflection to help students to self regulate.
General information
| Related discipline, field or programme | Discipline: Any Field: Any Programme: Any |
| Type of supported integration | Academic Integration Social Integration XPractical Aspects of Student Life Managing Institutional Communication Campus Facilities XManaging Life Environmental Adaptation Academic Freedom Perceived Academic Support Perceived Social Support Sense of Belonging Mental well-being Disability |
| Type of intervention | Micro intervention Course and Teaching Strategies Gamification and Technology Installing Learning Communities Social Support and Mentoring Summer School Mindset Orientation Program |
| Target audience | Undergraduate first years |
| Number of students | 30 |
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Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Icebreakers
A series of icebreakers for instructors to choose from in order to help students establish a first connection.
General information
| Related discipline, field or programme | Discipline: Any Field: Any Programme: Any |
| Type of supported integration | Acedemic integration, Social integration |
| Type of intervention | Micro intervention Course and Teaching Strategies Gamification and Technology Installing Learning Communities Social Support and Mentoring Summer School Mindset Orientation Program |
| Target audience | First years |
| Number of students | Large group |
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Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Lunch and Learn
A 4-6 week programme, lunchtime get together to discuss challenges of academic studies and potential strategies and solutions for first year students.
Topics can cover aspects of academic studies which students find challenging. Some suggestions are (Fergy et al., 2011):
- Effective Study Habits in First Year
- Time Management and Organisation
- Understanding Assessment and Academic Language
- Coping with Stress and Anxiety
- Boosting Motivation and Setting Goals
- Enhancing Communication Skills
- Developing Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills
Whilst the aim is to support academic integration, students will work in small groups, to enhance social integration as a secondary impact.
General information
| Related discipline, field or programme | Discipline: Any Field: Any Programme: Any |
| Type of supported integration | Acedemic integration, Social integration |
| Type of intervention | Micro intervention Course and Teaching Strategies Gamification and Technology Installing Learning Communities Social Support and Mentoring Summer School Mindset Orientation Program |
| Target audience | First year students within first semester |
| Number of students | Students will be broken into small groups to undertake work as a team, but one academic will facilitate discussions in the whole group. Recommended max 30 students to 1 facilitator |
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Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Passing First Year: The Game
A simple board game designed to introduce students to how they can balance their time and academic endeavours to best effect.
General information
| Related discipline, field or programme | Discipline: Any Field: Any Programme: Any |
| Type of supported integration | Acedemic integration, Social integration |
| Type of intervention | Micro intervention Course and Teaching Strategies Gamification and Technology Installing Learning Communities Social Support and Mentoring Summer School Mindset Orientation Program |
| Target audience | Any first year students |
| Number of students | It can be used with a minimum of 2 students and no maximum |
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Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
STEMFOCUS Processing learning content
In progress
Innovative interventions to improve social & academic integration of STEM university students © 2026 by In-4-STEM project is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) . To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/