The Impact of the ROSE Summer School Program in Supporting Students’ Transition to Higher Education

This study investigates the effectiveness of the ROSE (Romanian Secondary Education) Summer School program in supporting the transition of vulnerable high school students to higher education. The 2024 edition of the Varadinum Summer School, organized by the University of Oradea, was analyzed using a quantitative research design. A structured questionnaire with 20 items was completed by all 56 participants at the end of the program. Items addressed motivations for participation, perceived usefulness of activities, overall satisfaction, and sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, standard deviations) and inferential tests (independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlations). Findings show that 82.5% of students attended a summer school for the first time, and all expressed willingness to recommend the experience. Physical Education and Sports courses received the highest scores (M=8.9, SD=1.2), followed by career counseling (M=8.3, SD=1.8) and Geography courses (M=8.2, SD=1.8). A significant difference was found between Sports and Geography courses (t(54)=2.36, p=0.02), while study visits showed no differences. A positive correlation was observed between career counseling and Sports courses (r=0.28, p=0.03). Socio-demographic analysis revealed that most participants came from rural or low-income families, with notable proportions having parents working abroad or special educational needs. In conclusion, the ROSE Summer School – Varadinum 2024 had a positive influence on students’ academic motivation, self-confidence, and perception of university life, confirming its value as an inclusive and effective intervention.