Abstract
Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is an established part of widening participation and retention activities at the University of Cumbria. In October 2013, the question of sustainability and growth of the scheme was addressed. The small team of PASS supervisors needed to create an effective and innovative way to meet the challenges of growing and maintaining the universityââ¬â¢s most successful peer mentoring scheme. To this end a new blended approach to PASS training was trialled in 2014. The training combined a range of face-to-face support, training and debriefs (plus online elements), via a virtual learning environment (VLE) and Facebook. Having been successful in both implementation and outcomes, this new blended approach to delivering training has now been adopted by the PASS supervisor team. àThe purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the approaches and methods taken at the University of Cumbria in delivering this blended approach to PASS leader training. Initially it addresses the motivation behind the need for change, in an institutional context. It then explores some of the challenges faced during the implementation and delivery of training. Finally, it reflects on the evaluation and acknowledges future developments for leader training. àÃÂ
Highlights
UK Higher Education (HE) institutions are seeing a growing and increasingly diverse student population as a result of the ongoing national agenda to widen participation and a greater number of non-UK students choosing to study in the UK
The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the approaches and methods taken at the University of Cumbria in delivering this blended approach to Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) leader training
After all training had taken place, leaders were asked to complete a feedback form. This allowed the team to measure how comfortable leaders felt in their role, the information that had been provided to them, and how the leaders felt about the blended approach to training
Summary
UK Higher Education (HE) institutions are seeing a growing and increasingly diverse student population as a result of the ongoing national agenda to widen participation and a greater number of non-UK students choosing to study in the UK. There is a need for an inclusive, flexible, effective and sustainable method of student support that is suitable for such a diverse student body. This is directly linked to, and is reinforced in, the institution’s mission statement (University of Cumbria, 2015a). At the University of Cumbria there are a number of student support initiatives One of these initiatives is the group peer mentoring scheme, Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). It was agreed to begin trialling the blended method in early 2014 This included moving the first day of training online and the introduction of additional support via a social platform
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