Entering higher education can be considered as one of the most crucial decisions in
our lives. The university or college we are accepted for is not only of utmost importance regarding our
studies and chosen profession, but it also represents the venue of the period when our independence evolves,
we make responsible decisions, and develop our own lifestyles and habits. Several pieces of research have
proven what factors can influence this process and in what way, or how people with different personality
features achieve this (Smith, 2008).
Recently, in educational sociology more attention is paid to student approaches to their own
adaptation at the higher education institution, with emphasis on the significance of a student’s relationship
with the environment and assessed inner needs, and meaning of adaptation to changes, simultaneously
raising the importance of the role a higher education institution plays for student adaptation in an academic
community (Zulumskyt÷, Galminait÷, 2011). Choosing higher education means not only choosing study
programmes but also an institution. Students face many questions, such as; if to study far from their home
town, if to live in a dormitory or a rented flat, if to attend all lectures, if to take any extra-curricular activities,
etc. Considering the latter and similar questions, we can claim that higher education studies can be perceived
as a stressful event and a challenge for the young person. It’s difficult to decide and the decision itself
becomes the beginning of a new, more complicated process of adaptation.
Student approaches to the various aspects of higher education today becomes topical not just for
higher education institutions, improving their work, but also for the higher instances, which prepare
recommendations and laws. Student approaches to study environments, social-psychological factors, which
facilitate adaptation at college, and obstacles to achieve better learning outcomes are considered as major
factors determining students’ adaptation and their attitudes.
Problem of the research. When collaborating with Dunaujvaros college, the idea to compare and
evaluate first year student adaptation peculiarities in both institutions was born. We consider that despite the
country, culture or higher education institution, the process of adaptation is a difficult challenge for first year
students and the majority of adaptation problems are similar in both countries.
Both Kauno kolegija (hereafter – KC) and Dunaujvaros college (hereafter - DC) seek to facilitate
favourable conditions for the implementation of study programme aims and foster sincere relations based on
responsibility and trust. Problems arise when a constructive aim doesn't always correspond to the current
situation. Analysis of student attitudes helps not only to evaluate peculiarities of adaptation but also to
compare assessments and to check how our problems look in the international context.
The aim of the research is – to compare how factors governing adaptation at college are considered
by Kauno kolegija/UAS and Dunajvaros college/UAS students.
During this research the following tasks were set:
1. To assess what aspects of student’s adaptation are distinguished in scientific literatute.
2. To assess KC and DC student attitudes to study environments (living and learning conditions,
information about college and studies dissemination, duration of adaptation to changed conditions, and staff
assistance);
3. To analyse interferences associated with the ability to achieve good learning outcomes for KC
and DC students and their impact on learning outcomes;