Summary Report: Experiential Learning Outcomes of High School Graduates and Their Transition to Post-Secondary Education in New Brunswick

Abstract

This report looks at how participating in experiential learning in high school may influence students’ decisions about whether to pursue post-secondary education. It compares students who took experiential learning courses with those who did not, using data from New Brunswick public schools and post-secondary institutions. Among students likely to pursue higher education, experiential learning participants were more likely to enrol in college, while non-participants were more likely to enrol in university. For students not on a post-secondary path, experiential learning participation did not appear to influence their decisions. The study also found that experiential learning participants who enrolled in college tended to do so sooner after graduation. These findings suggest that experiential learning may support college enrolment among certain groups, but more research is needed to understand its broader impact on post-secondary transitions.