Students' time management skills during the first year of studies and the support services of higher education institutions

Abstract

During the transition from secondary education to university, students experience difficulties, as their lives undergo various changes. These difficulties contribute to a major problem in higher education, the early dropout of studies. One of these difficulties is related to the inability of first-year students to manage their academic time. This literature review focus on first-year students time management skills, and the role of support services of higher education institutions. At first, what constitutes time management and what it generally includes is analyzed. Then, the importance of time management skills for organizing students' study and balancing their academic and personal needs is described. Furthermore, the existing literature focusing on first-year students is quoted. These studies reveal that time management skills are important for first-year students as in university there are different demands on students' time use compared to secondary education. Those skills positively affect academic performance and reduce transition stress. Moreover, they can be taught to students and in this setting, the role of the support services of higher education institutions is crucial.