Student success in an academic development programme (ADP)

The dataset underpinned a PhD study titled 'The domains related to student success in an Academic Development Programme'. The study focuses on student success in an Academic Development Programme at a South African university. Variables within the demographic, institutional, economic, cognitive, personal needs, and psychological domains of student success were investigated. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. Data was collected in three phases: a quantitative, secondary analysis of existing university data from students (n=5 560) in an Extended Curriculum Programme during 11 years (2010-2020), a quantitative survey phase (n=161) and an interview phase (n=15). Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and theory-driven, inductive coding. Findings revealed that the Extended Curriculum Programme alleviates the differences in demography and economic status to such an extent that students from deprived areas were equally successful as students from more affluent schools. While all domains are important, the study indicates that the psychological domain and the personal needs domain are most notable about student success.