Session Outline

This interactive workshop brings the perspectives of Senior Personal Tutors (SPTs) from three institutions across a number of subject disciplines to provide case studies and a participatory space for sharing and exploring best practice in the SPT role. The project was initiated by ideas exchange at the 2024 UKAT conference that allowed for good practice sharing across institutions. To further this work, the session will enable attendees to reflect on their own roles around personal tutoring and to consider how they can adapt new collaborative practices. This will help foster positive outcomes for their students by building future connections and partnerships beyond their own institutions.

Delegates will hear how SPTs from Manchester Metropolitan University, Cardiff University and Manchester School of Architecture address key challenges in the SPT role and use effective strategies to engage students across disciplinary contexts, supporting mental health and wellbeing, and navigating transitions into and beyond university.

Findings by McFarlane (2016) highlighted that personal tutors viewed the exchange of good practices as a vital way to grow in their role. Central to the workshop is the opportunity for participants to share experiences, solutions and support mechanisms to strengthen tutoring systems within their own institutions. This workshop is supported by UKAT's Senior Tutor Network Special Interest Group.

By the end of the session, attendees will leave with new ideas, insights, and resources to empower them in their roles, while contributing to a shared vision of creating meaningful and transformative learning experiences for students and staff alike.

Learning Outcomes

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