The second Library Lunchtime Lecture for the fall semester will take place on Wednesday this week, November 25, with a grand total of three speakers! Dr. Margaret Sands and Dr. Armağan Ateşkan (both EDUC) and Ms. Sıla Sagun (BLIS) will deliver a talk entitled “IB or Not IB: The Key to University Success?”, which will outline a project undertaken at the Faculty of Education to examine the value of the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) for university students.
Both IB and non-IB graduates were studied: they began university life together, in the same faculties and departments at four universities. The non-IB group had statistically significantly higher scores on the university entrance exam. The IB graduates had higher CGPAs and individual course grades at university. They also had a higher graduation rate: nearly three times more of them graduated after four years. Focus-group discussions helped explain the difference in the performances of the two groups: critical thinking, time management, academic preparation, sense of belonging. The study showed that IB graduates seem to be better prepared for university life than their non-IB peers, and are more able to build on their high school experience to succeed at university.
If you would like to hear more about this project, or share your thoughts, come to the Main Campus Library Art Gallery on Wednesday at 12:40 p.m. The talk will be in English, and, as usual, lunchtime refreshments will be provided.