## Metadata - Author: Jim Dickinson - Full Title: When Students Are Tutors Belonging Is Built - URL: https://wonkhe.com/blogs/when-students-are-tutors-belonging-is-built/ - Date: 2024-01-23 ## Highlights - consider the breadth of student mental health issues, student co-creation over initiatives, and the need to contribute to tackling the biggest risks to students – not just the easiest ones to address. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvk6615zszjv0m9c5sbjb09)) - he’d added some additional groups of students who may be at risk of not experiencing equality of opportunity – ==service children, young carers, prisoners, commuter students, parents, and Jewish students==. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvk6d08k8a2hcvxtqp3nm4c)) - He also stressed a major change in OfS’ regulatory expectations that was relevant to third sector colleagues – what he calls “the presumption to partnership”. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvk6myjaxn8fwj2h761dksv)) - e’s noted that “sense of belonging” has appeared in lots of evidence reviews as relevant to many of the risks ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvk7b2as2682far135hbzq8)) - The numbers are interesting. While there’s no explicit “sense of belonging” question in the Finnish NSS, there are questions on whether students support each other and try to give help when it is needed, whether talking with other students has helped students understand things better, and whether students have been able to work comfortably with other students during their courses. They’re among the [highest ratings](https://vipunen.fi/en-gb/_layouts/15/xlviewer.aspx?id=/en-gb/Reports/Yliopistokoulutus%20-%20opiskelijapalaute%20-%20kandi%20-%20kysymysryhm%C3%A4_EN.xlsb) in the survey, and significantly higher than when the NSS used to test feeling part of a community. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvk8qyyzwg6w2tfng696wem)) - the absolute ubiquity of a system which puts students in charge of supporting other students to integrate into the academic community ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvk9xc9xzq7y584w9tpxaz9)) - There are also specialised student tutor schemes – ones for physical education who promote sports culture, and teacher tutors, who assist in study planning. Some universities have dedicated tutors for international students, enhancing their integration and fostering connections. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkazwsxrt92tz2p2jxxrpq)) - ==The UK results of its study on student confidence, weighted for gender, ethnicity, and international / home domicile, also show factors impacting student confidence – over half cited their mental health, and 1 in 5 said they had chosen the wrong university for them==. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkkba999rt3vw8tmfmxvc8)) - But over a quarter of students said their confidence would improve if they had a student mentor, and almost 1 in 4 said they’d get a confidence boost from being given more opportunities to make friends. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkk9r6ykmnapff8kejh4wp)) - ==So in a modern mass system, it becomes more important (not less) to find ways to make that happen without the bricks, mortar, common rooms and kitchens of a hall of residence==. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkkv729gbyy7xrgr9h2wxa)) - At Oslo Met, a “fadder” is: • An ambassador: During the buddy weeks, you are the public face of the university and your study programme. • A model: The new students look up to you and pay close attention to what you say and do! • A caregiver: Shows consideration, responsibility and gets everyone in the group involved. • A signpost: Answers questions and refers further if needed. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkr5h60eer0fq9ensat5m9)) - And across Finland, what used to be pub crawls (Appros) have now been transformed into team events too – tutors get their new students to sign up to exploration events that tour everything from cafes and restaurants to support services and sports facilities. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkxcdzkk23wwrj6knqq6hz)) - [This study](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-014-9752-y) found that students who participated in a peer mentoring program had higher rates of academic success and retention compared to those who did not participate, and found that peer mentoring had a positive impact on the social and emotional well-being of students ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkzezc26m71avwbht5619n)) - [Another study](https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1138947.pdf) found that these programmes can be especially effective for first in the family students ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvkzpzmwevxxksmqxn93vmh)) - In research conducted by Student Minds (on the importance of [student peers](https://www.studentminds.org.uk/uploads/3/7/8/4/3784584/peer_support_for_student_mental_health.pdf) in creating a sense of belonging and improving students’ well-being), peer support was vital in ensuring other students felt valued and safe enough to seek help ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvm095xe9rq8w2yv8awcay3)) - So common are the schemes that there’s ==national resources that SUs adopt== – a Skillful Tutor [handbook](https://www.nyyti.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kupla_Skillful_tutor_web.pdf), a six-part tutor training pack that covers the [role of a tutor](https://ehyt.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/KUPLA_1_The_tutors_role_s-2.pptx), [planning activities](https://ehyt.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/KUPLA_2_Planning_tutoring_activities_s-2.pptx), [guiding skills and creating a safe atmosphere](https://ehyt.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/KUPLA_3_Tutors_group_guiding_skills_and_safe_atmosphere_s-2.pptx), [diversity and inclusivity](https://ehyt.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/KUPLA_4_Acknowledging_diversity_and_inclusiveness_in_tutoring_s-2.pptx), [study skills and mental wellbeing and substances](https://ehyt.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/KUPLA_5_Study_ability_and_mental_well_being_s-2.pptx), and additional materials on [putting on events](https://ehyt.fi/en/product/kupla-event-training-for-student-organisation-actives/) for associations and groups, some [bystander stuff,](https://ehyt.fi/en/product/how-to-raise-your-concerns-conversation-card/) and [online/remote training materials](https://ehyt.fi/en/product/remote-exercises-for-tutoring/). ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvm3dth7kg5njbj9hxeq4gm)) - I’d urge SUs to get together with APP teams and student services colleagues and plot out a pilot of a proper student tutoring scheme for next year. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmvm4hcp5p661sz0cst5xwxk))