1. The positive impact of personal advising training
What works? Student retention and success change programme: Final conference
The positive impact of personal advising training
Dom Jethwa –
Student Engagement and Support Manager (ERS)
11th April 2017

2. What Works notes the centrality of academic staff-student relationships to retention
“Students who feel that they have a less good relationship with academic members of staff are more likely to think about leaving.”
(Building student engagement and belonging in Higher Education at a time of change: final report from What Works? Student Retention and Success Programme p.32)

3. Students want and expect particular aspects to these relationships
staff are available and respond
staff value the input of students
staff are approachable
staff view them as individuals
staff appear interested in students and their progress
(Building student engagement and belonging in Higher Education at a time of change: final report from What Works? Student Retention and Success Programme p.33)

4. Personal Advising affords an opportunity to build these relationships
(Personal tutors offer)…
first point of contact
academic support
academic development
pastoral support
identify another individual or service to provide appropriate information, advice and guidance
identify/work with students at risk
provide support for students who are thinking of leaving
integration into the wider university experience
(Building student engagement and belonging in Higher Education at a time of change: final report from What Works? Student Retention and Success Programme p.32)
Points 2 and 3

5. The context….
QMUL has approximately £16,000 students belonging to 15 Schools in 3 Faculties on 5 campuses
Schools are largely autonomous
Personal Advisers are also variously Adviser, Academic Advisers, Mentors and Personal Tutors
In 2012 the student support experience varied greatly

6. Since 2013/14 QMUL have been offering personal adviser training
2-3 hour session
Mandatory for all academics participating in PGCert in Academic Practice and PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
School specific sessions devised

7. All session have similar core content
Importance of personal advising
Business as Usual personal advising– responding to quick “how do I?”, keeping in touch, keeping office hours up-to-date, understanding the courses, setting boundaries
Difficult conversations – noticing when all is not well, supportive signposting, maintaining boundaries
QMUL Support Services – what is available

8. 1,347 431 More than 400 staff have participated so far…
Academics currently working at Q.M
431
Staff working at Q.M.U.L have been trained

9. Feedback from staff is generally positive
Did this training session meet your personal tutoring needs?

10. There have been some useful findings from this experience
Training is important for building staff confidence
Institutional practises do not have to be consistent for training to be helpful
School specific sessions are the most engaging
Staff value the opportunity to discuss this role with peers
Staff need to know what support services are available