Developing the academic and personal tutor system

The value of a personal tutor system:

“It is necessary that staff be aware of the enormous value that a well-organised personal tutorial system, which gives attention to all students, can have. It can provide a closer connection of staff with students, support the student's personal and academic development with an effect on improved retention rates, give valuable feedback on the student's experience of the course and institution, and provide much needed evidence of reasons for withdrawal and failure”

The personal tutor is key to ensuring that the whole experience of the student is monitored and supported.

Academic Personal

Tutor

Academic

Feedback

Pastoral

care

Employment

Positive destinations

The student journey

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3/4

Transition Transition

Engaging with the course

The Student Journey

The role of the an APT in providing academic feedback• signpost sources of assistance, and make referrals in

confidence, for specific problems to other agencies (time management and study skills, English Academy, Mathematics Support Centre, Centre for Academic Writing, Student Counselling, Accommodation Office, Student Funding, etc);

• take an overview of progress across all subjects and gives accurate, objective advice;

• discuss the student’s personal development (PDP)

Source: Coventry University Student Academic Support Framework

Graduate attributes – how do we help students assess their development?

• Learning to Learn• Working with Others• Problem Solving and Innovation• Numeracy• IT and Online Learning• Communication• Career Management• Information Management• Personal Development Planning• Skills: practical, legal, transferable

Year 1• Settling into University• Feedback from first assessment

– Marks– Academic writing issues– Plagiarism– Dyslexia

• Referral to appropriate academic support student support

• Reflect on development of graduate skills and attributes

• Review of academic progress• Planning for year 2

Year 2• Reviewing academic progress on

programme• Discussion of feedback and marks

identifying overarching issues• Reflecting upon graduate skills and

attributes• Identification of skills gaps

• Academic planning:• Course choices for level 3• Placement/internship

application/preparation• Linking to careers service support

Year 3/4

• Reviewing academic progress on programme

• Supporting action planning for transition• Identifying referees• Applying for jobs/ courses• Linking to the careers service

support• Discussion of feedback and marks

identifying overarching issues• Reflecting upon graduate skills and

attributes• Identification of skills gaps

Models from elsewhere

• Many institutions have a structured approach to personal tutoring which incorporates personal development planning:

– Leeds University: ‘Leeds for Life’

Leeds model....

Scoping the scheme for Law

• Defining the skills (Practical, Legal, transferable)

• Career linkages and employment

• Mapping to the levels.