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The Impact of Mathematics Support upon Student Retention: The Student Voice

Ní Fhloinn, Eabhnat orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-3840-2115 and Deacon, Lucy orcid logoORCID: 0009-0002-9629-6100 (2023) The Impact of Mathematics Support upon Student Retention: The Student Voice. In: Ninth Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI 9), 13-14 Oct., 2023, Dublin, Ireland.

Abstract
A student survey undertaken by the Irish Mathematics Learning Support Network (IMLSN) in 2014 found that students reported a positive impact from mathematics support upon student retention. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent university campus closures, engagement with mathematics support reduced greatly. To ascertain whether students still perceive that positive impact from mathematics support, an anonymous student survey was carried out with Dublin City University, with a total of 492 responses received. Of these, 164 students had used the services of the Maths Learning Centre. These students were asked about whether they had considered dropping out of their programme due to mathematical difficulties. Just under a third of students stated that they had thought about this, but two-third of these students credited the Maths Learning Centre with influencing their decision not to drop out. In this short paper, we give voice to their words in relation to these struggles, and consider the ongoing impact of mathematics support following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Metadata
Item Type:Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Event Type:Conference
Refereed:Yes
Subjects:Social Sciences > Education
Mathematics
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health
DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Mathematical Sciences
Published in: Proceedings of the Ninth Conference on Research in Mathematics Education in Ireland (MEI 9). . MEI and Dublin City University.
Publisher:MEI and Dublin City University
Official URL:https://zenodo.org/records/10037374
Copyright Information:Authors
ID Code:32660
Deposited On:19 May 2026 10:51 by Eabhnat Ni Fhloinn . Last Modified 19 May 2026 10:53
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