- Oct 20, 2026
- Posted by:
- Category: Abstract of 10th-educationconf
Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Advanced Research in Education
Year: 2026
[PDF]
In Search of The Optimum Opportunity Window for Student Support in Higher Education
Prof Dr. De Wet Schutte
ABSTRACT:
The article introduces the concept of an optimum opportunity window for student support intervention in higher education and argues that the timing of first- and second-tier student support is as critical as the type of intervention. While the student support discourse typically emphasises early or upfront interventions, the article points out that interventions implemented either too early, when students do not recognise a need or are not ready to engage, or too late, after failure and disengagement have become entrenched, are sub-optimum and risk being a futile exercise. The study uses the core academic skills identified in the edu-socio model for student success, which outlines the core hidden-curriculum scaffolding for student success across higher education institutions and faculties that all students must master when navigating the complex, continuously evolving, yet universal edu-socio tertiary education environment towards graduation. Using the Student Success Thermometer© (SST), which is based on the edu-socio model for student success, as a data collection instrument, the results of the case study successfully identified and described the movement of the optimum opportunity window for first- and second-tier support intervention over two semesters of a single academic year for undergrad and postgrad students. The case study confirms that effective academic intervention, which relies on the art of timing to connect specific areas of need to the moments when students are most capable and willing to access and utilise academic support, is achievable in practice by using composite SST results.
Keywords: Edu-Socio Model; First- And Second Tier; Hidden Curriculum; Student Success; Student Success Thermometer