Session Outline

The evolving demands of academic life, coupled with students’ increasing focus on employability and skill development, highlight the need for tailored support systems. Personal tutors, uniquely positioned to provide both academic advising and pastoral care, play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between students' emotional responses to challenges and their academic success.

This session directly addresses the conference theme of Learning Well by exploring the power of positivity and the joy of learning and university life. By integrating a pragmatic growth mindset, personal tutors can foster resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in students—qualities essential for academic progression and future careers.

Research highlights that fostering authentic relationships with personal tutors enhances students’ sense of belonging and academic engagement (Yale, 2017; Thomas, 2012). However, recognising that tutors cannot resolve all student challenges, this session presents a structured approach that shifts the focus towards empowering students to take ownership of their development.

Drawing on evidence from my collaborations with university departments, as well as findings from student feedback and engagement analytics, this session will outline how personal tutors can act as change agents in higher education. Through a structured framework grounded in self-reflection, actionable goal-setting, and resilience-building techniques, this session provides an evidence-based model that institutions can adapt to improve student support.

Key takeaways for delegates include:

Practical strategies for integrating a pragmatic growth mindset into personal tutoring, including structured self-reflection exercises, real-world scenario integration, and goal-setting frameworks.

Evidence-based insights from institutional case studies demonstrating the impact of this approach on student success and engagement.

Scalable approaches that can be adapted across different higher education institutions to enhance student well-being and academic resilience.

Looking at scenarios and case studies, participants will engage in meaningful discussion and application of different strategies as tools for helping students develop a growth mindset to a variety of challenges. This approach contributes to long-term student success, aligning with the broader conference theme of fostering positive and meaningful learning experiences by positioning personal tutors as facilitators of self-efficacy and problem-solving.

Learning Outcomes

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