What is it about?

Many university students never graduate. Others may earn their diploma yet they cannot be labeled successful graduates. They are not able to seize the opportunities offered by their university education or prepare for an entry into the labor market. Who can be considered a successful student? How do such students behave and what do they do? The survey conducted herein looked for answers to these questions. The goal of the survey was to define and categorize the most important characteristics of successful students. The research was conducted among 972 students of five faculties at a university in the Czech Republic. The respondents perceived a successful student in a similar way regardless of which facility they attended, their gender or their level of study program. The main features of a successful university student include motivation, intelligence, industriousness, proactivity, fulfilling the school tasks, good grades and out-of-school activities.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Although the survey was realized in the Czech Republic, the findings could be interesting also for experts from other countries, at least as a base for comparison or an inspiration. The study was based on students’ opinions and evaluates the stated characteristics of a successful student according the faculty at which respondents studied, according respondents’ gender and their level of study program (Bachelor's or Master's one).

Perspectives

The findings indicate that there is very little difference in how a successful student is characterized by male and female students as well as by bachelor students or master students. A very little difference was also in how a successful student in characterized by students from different faculties. The findings show a successful student is most frequently described on the base of their behavior, especially in the sense of their behavior towards the goal, activity, information, people, oneself, events and situations; and on their personal traits of character.

Assoc. Prof. Jana Matošková
Tomas Bata University in Zlín

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Characteristics of a Successful University Student, The International Journal of Learning in Higher Education, January 2015, Common Ground Publishing,
DOI: 10.18848/2327-7955/cgp/v22i04/48634.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page