Student-led peer learning and support schemes can provide a vital sense of community and belonging to students in higher education (HE), as well as offer the potential to improve academic confidence and contribute to improved attainment, retention, progression, and completion.
Across the HE sector, peer learning and support is commonly situated across a variety of institutional contexts, featuring a diverse range of approaches, models, and terminology.
A new compendium of evidence maps the provision of student-led peer learning and support, primarily across the UK HE sector, identifying multiple perspectives, challenges, good practice and potential avenues for future research. Two of the case studies were written by UoS colleagues.
Cultivating student peer support at University of Southampton 2016-2023 and beyond by Emma Mansfield (PALS Coordinator, Widening Participation and Social Mobility) (6.3 in the case study report), outlines the development of structured peer learning at UoS from a pilot programme in SBS to the development of a centralised PAL scheme coordinated by WPSM. The scheme features strongly in our Access and Participation Plan and aims to enhance community, belonging and attainment for all first-year students on targeted programmes.
The impact of peer learning on assessment literacy by Neil Ford (Principal Teaching Fellow, CHEP) (5.3 in the case study report), highlights a research project investigating the impact of attending peer learning sessions on students’ development of assessment literacy and feedback orientation. The project found significant gains in assessment understanding and judgement for students who attended a high number of peer learning sessions in their first semester of study.
Visit the Student-lead peer learning and support Advance HE Resource.
Colleagues interested in finding out more can join the UoS Student Peer Mentoring Network. Chaired by Emma Mansfield and supported by CHEP, this network is open to anyone interested in developing student peer learning and support (including buddying and mentoring) and members meet regularly to share good practice, resources, and updates.