Fostering Resilience and Pragmatism: The Pivotal Role of Personal Tutors
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
MEANING
If you are a registered delegate, please login to view the full session information and resources
Session Outline
Academic life's evolving demands, coupled with students' focus on employability and skill development, highlight the need for more tailored support. Personal tutors, uniquely positioned to provide academic advising and pastoral care, play a vital role in bridging the gap between students' emotional responses to challenges and academic success.
Research suggests that building authentic relationships with personal tutors mitigates challenges and fosters a sense of belonging (Yale, 2017). However, also recognising that tutors cannot solve all student problems, this workshop explores for a pragmatic growth mindset—an approach rooted in actionable strategies, self-reflection, and resilience—to empower students more effectively.
Drawing on my experience and collaborations with university departments, I demonstrate how personal tutors can act as change agents by combining academic advising and pastoral support to foster holistic development. This workshop will also highlight the benefits of a growth mindset, enhancing resilience, problem-solving, and adaptability—key skills for navigating academic challenges and future careers.
Practical strategies, such as guided self-reflection, goal-setting, and real-world scenario integration, will be explored, alongside methods to help students respond effectively to setbacks, turning obstacles into opportunities for academic and personal success.
By adopting a pragmatic growth mindset, personal tutors can empower students to overcome obstacles, embrace feedback, and build resilience, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and success.
Learning Outcomes
Bibliography
Lochtie, D., McIntosh, E., Stork, A., & Walker, B. W. (2018). Effective personal tutoring in higher education. United Kingdom: Critical Publishing.
McFarlane, K. J. (2016). Tutoring the tutors: Supporting effective personal tutoring. Active Learning in Higher Education, 17(1), 77–88.
Yale, A. T. (2017). The personal tutor–student relationship: Student expectations and experiences of personal tutoring in higher education. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 43(4), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2017.1377164
Competencies
This session addresses the following competencies of the UKAT Professional Framework for Advising and Tutoring