The First-Year Student Experience
Authors: Picton Catherine , Baik Chi 
Published: December 2024

This special issue of Student Success celebrates the work of Professor Ella Kahu and her substantial contribution to the advancement of our collective understanding of student engagement. In June 2024 Professors Karen Nelson and Chi Baik, and Dr Cat Picton sat down with Ella for a reflective conversation about her work, and additional insights in her theorising and research on student experience and engagement. In this special issue, we present the interview transcript in three parts and showcase Ella’s key publications.
The section, dedicated to “The First Year Experience,” presents a collection of articles authored or co-authored by Ella Kahu that delve into the multifaceted nature of this formative stage. The articles explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by students, particularly those who are mature-aged and studying at a distance, as they navigate the transition to higher education. From examining the engagement of mature distance students and their sense of belonging and interest, to investigating the emotional rollercoaster of a mature-aged student’s first semester, these studies offer valuable insights into the student experience. This part also addresses the impact of external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic on student well-being and engagement, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of students during unprecedented times. Through qualitative and mixed methods research, including innovative approaches like photo elicitation, the articles in this section provide a rich understanding of the first-year student experience. They underscore the importance of institutional support, the influence of emotions and personal circumstances, and the power of engagement in shaping student success.
Publications:
Journal articles:
Kahu, E. R. (2012). From “loving it” to “freaking out” and back again: The engagement of a mature-aged distance student in their first semester at university. Refereed Proceedings of Doing Psychology: Manawatu Doctoral Research Symposium. https://mro-ns.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/4960
Kahu, E. R. (2014). Increasing the emotional engagement of first year mature-aged distance students: Interest and belonging The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education, 5(2),45‐55. https://doi.org/10.5204/intjfyhe.v5i2.231
Kahu, E. R., Ashley, N., & Picton, C. (2022). Exploring the complexity of first-year student belonging in higher education: Familiarity, interpersonal, and academic belonging . Student Success, 13(2), 10-20. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.2264
Kahu, E. R., & Picton, C. (2020). Using photo elicitation to understand first-year student experiences: Student metaphors of life, university and learning. Active Learning in Higher Education, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787420908384
Kahu, E. R., Stephens, C., Leach, L., & Zepke, N. (2013). The engagement of mature distance students. Higher Education Research & Development, 32(5), 791-804. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2013.777036
Kahu, E. R., Stephens, C., Leach, L., & Zepke, N. (2014). Linking academic emotions and student engagement: Mature-aged distance students’ transition to university. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 39(4), 481-497. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2014.895305
Kahu, E. R., Stephens, C., Zepke, N., & Leach, L. (2014). Space and time to engage: Mature-aged distance students learn to fit study into their lives. International Journal of Lifelong Learning, 33(4), 523-540. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2014.884177
Kahu, E. R., Thomas, H. G., & Heinrich, E. (2022). “A sense of community and camaraderie”: Increasing student engagement by supplementing an LMS with a Learning Commons Communication Tool. Active Learning in Higher Education, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/14697874221127691
McKay, L., O’Bryan, S., & Kahu, E. R. (2021). “My uni experience wasn’t completely ruined”: The impacts of COVID-19 on the first-year experience. Student Success, 12(3), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.1762
Picton, C., Kahu, E. R., & Nelson, K. (2018). “Hardworking, determined and happy”: First-year students’ understanding and experience of success. Higher Education Research and Development, 37(6), 1260-1273. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1478803
Picton, C., & Kahu, E. R. (2022). “I knew I had the support from them”: Understanding student support through a student engagement lens .Higher Education Research and Development, 41(6), 2034-2047. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2021.1968353
Conference Presentations:
Kahu, E. R., Nelson, K. J., & Picton, C. (2016, 29 June-2 July). “I’m excited!” Student expectations prior to starting their first year at university. Paper presented at the Student Transitions Achievement Retention and Success (STARS) Conference. Perth, Australia. https://research.usc.edu.au/esploro/outputs/conferencePaper/Im-excited-Student-expectations-prior-to/99450312702621
Picton, C., Kahu, E. R., & Nelson, K. J. (2017, 2-5 July). Friendship supported learning – the role of friendships in first-year students’ university experiences. Paper presented at the Student Transitions Achievement Retention and Success (STARS) Conference. Adelaide, Australia. https://research.usc.edu.au/esploro/outputs/conferencePaper/Friendship-supported-learning--the-role/99450777002621?institution=61USC_INST