Successful Student Transitions - A Time to Thrive Louise Wiles and Elizabeth Gillies

Welcome to this episode where we celebrate student voices.
In this episode Elizabeth speaks to Anja about her educational journey and autism diagnosis.
Anja openly shares the highs and lows, the challenges and the ways in which she managed those challenges and survive her university experience.
It was not all plain sailing and Anja shares an important message for universities about supporting students who find socialisation challenging. It is not all about the academic support.
Listen as Elizabeth and Anja discuss:
The very positive support University Disability Services provided for Anja as she arrived and settled into the academics of university life. The challenges that arose, how Anja handled them, and how better support could have made a real difference to her experience. The importance of seeing the bigger and longer term picture - and university as a path to a positive future..The value of support outside of the university structure. Why it is so important to develop your ability to ask for help.

Welcome to an episode where we celebrate student voices and specialist university support
In this episode Elizabeth speaks to Edward Mills, a postdoctoral research fellow at Exeter University. Edward is a lecturer in medieval history, a personal tutor and is actively involved in Transition Days and the Enhanced Induction Programme for new neurodiverse students. He was diagnosed as autistic at the end of first university degree. He enjoys talking and writing on autism and history - just two of his passions.
Listen to learn more about neurodiversity and if you have an autism diagnosis there are helpful pointers about applying to university and in gaining support.
They discuss
You are not alone if you have an autism diagnosis when going to university. The latest data from 2021-22 indicate there are at least 19,000 young adults making the transition from school to university. The university experience might raise some challenges AND it could well be a place to thrive. Neurodivergence and university can go well together. It can be a place to showcase your strengths and skills that could be easy and fun for you!Edward encourages you to be proactive in sharing your diagnosis as this will unlock doors to meet your needs. He explains how adjustments and ILPs ( Individual Learning Plans), that are created in collaboration with students, can bring a range of support. Parents can be involved in this process of transition.Reading stories of the experience of the transition to university can be helpful. These can be found on the Autism and Uni Toolkit below. Edward shared a number of helpful resources that support neurodiverse students through the transition to university.

Welcome to an episode where we celebrate student voices.
In this episode Elizabeth speaks to Scarlet, an autistic PhD student who has experienced ups and downs in her 6 years of Higher Education.
It is a great conversation with Scarlet sharing her wisdom on the transition to university.
Listen to learn more about neurodiversity and if you have an autism diagnosis there are helpful pointers about applying to university and in gaining support.
They discuss
Doing the research on what support universities offer. This is usually though their Disability Service (DBS)It’s often a challenge to know about what support you might need at university because you don't know it until you get there. Your needs might change at different stages of your university experience.Scarlet’s skill in advocating for herself after a break from university. Making things happen for her and the students that come after her. The importance of focused support for autistic students e.g. burnout, scheduling work, noticing patterns of avoidance and developing reflection skills, preferably before the transition to university.Scarlet’s continued work to ensure the best support from her university and developing her skills to succeed.

Are you thinking about taking a gap year. If so this episode is for you. Phoebe talks to Elizabeth about her gap year and discusses:
Why she decided to take a year out.What she has been doing.How she has benefited from the experience.What she is planning to do next.

One of the health fundamentals we believe is the most neglected, is the importance of rest and recovery - and we’re not talking about sleep.
This is SO important at busy and stressful times such as exam season and here we revisit an episode first published last year.
We share:
The seven different ways we can choose to ‘rest’ and ‘restore’ our energy levels outlined by Sandra Dalton Smith in her book: Sacred Rest: Recover your life, renew your energy, restore your sanity. Which would be your favourite?Why developing a rest and recovery mindset is so important and why rest is essential for good work and helping us to prevent ‘slow self harm’ (Alex Pang).The signals we need to look out for that suggest we need to take more time for rest and recovery. What signals are you aware of? When do you ignore the signals?The ways in which we have been programmed to ignore our need for rest. What do you think gets in the way of you and rest?Ideas for taking more appropriate rest and recovery time.

Exam time is looming and students are getting down to revision plans - and hopefully some effective revision!
But what makes studying effective? How can students get the most from the time they spend with their noses in their books?
In this episode: Bradley Busch from Innerdrive provides evidenced based strategies for students when studying for exams - he shares the following ideas:
There's a difference between what we like to do when we are studying and what’s effectiveStudying is challenging work and isn’t easy!What helps to makes knowledge stick and different ways to retrieve the knowledge you need in the examHow and why spacing - is an effective study strategyThe importance of starting your work early - we often underestimate the time we needWhy effort is contagious and how to harness its power.The NASA rocket metaphor and how it can propel you into work spaceThe truth in relation to distractions and their impact on the quality and quantity of learning