Session Outline

Academic advising and personal tutoring are central to fostering student success and preparing graduates for diverse outcomes within and beyond higher education (McIntosh et al., 2021; Woods, 2023). While advising traditionally emphasises academic progression, career planning, and personal development, integrating public speaking skills into this framework offers a powerful means of empowering students (McGill, Ali, & Barton, 2020).

Public speaking is not merely a communication skill; it is a transformative practice that enhances confidence, critical thinking, and the ability to articulate ideas persuasively. These competencies are directly linked to employability, leadership, and lifelong learning (Brennan, 2023).

This interactive workshop will explore how academic advisors and personal tutors can embed public speaking into student development strategies. By situating public speaking as both - a pedagogical tool and a developmental outcome, the workshop will demonstrate how structured opportunities for oral communication, such as presentations, debates, and reflective speaking exercises can reinforce academic advising goals (McGill et al., 2020).

Public speaking fosters resilience by helping students overcome anxiety, builds community through peer engagement, and strengthens graduate attributes such as teamwork, adaptability, and professional communication (Brennan, 2023).

The workshop emphasises active participation whilst showcasing how students can engage in short speaking tasks, peer feedback sessions, and reflective exercises that connect their speaking experiences to broader academic and career goals. Advisors and tutors will be guided on how to integrate these activities into advising sessions, tutorials, and co-curricular programs (McIntosh et al., 2021). By embedding public speaking into advising and tutoring, institutions can create holistic support systems that prepare students not only for academic success but also for thriving in professional and civic contexts (Feygin et al., 2022).

Ultimately, this approach aligns with contemporary higher education priorities: enhancing student engagement, improving retention, and broadening graduate outcomes. Public speaking becomes a method and a metric of success, empowering students to articulate their identities, aspirations, and achievements with clarity and confidence (Woods, 2023).

Learning Outcomes

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