Higher Education Personal Tutor’s and Advisor’s Companion: Translating Theory into Practice to Improve Student Success

Professional learning and development for higher education personal tutors and academic advisors.

With contributions from 50 practitioners from across the sector, this text examines the key themes, theories and concepts relevant to personal tutors and academic advisors and translates these into real-world practice. Case study narratives from a range of settings demonstrate how student learning and outcomes can be improved, and related critical thinking activities encourage reflection on how these learnings can be applied in specific contexts. The book provides invaluable insights and support for all personal tutors and academic advisors, enabling practitioners to learn from each other, develop innovative ideas, and feel part of a community of learning.

Please also see Effective Personal Tutoring in Higher Education for the themes on which the case studies in this collection are based.

Dave Lochtie is the Operations Manager for the Personal Learning Advisory Service at the Open University which provides targeted one-to-one support for students identified in the institution’s Access and Participation Plan. He is Chair of the UK Advising and Tutoring association (UKAT) which supports personal tutors and academic advisors across the UK, as well as Co-chair of the Association for Peer Learning and Support which promotes best practice in student-led learning. He is a qualified teacher and co-author of Effective Personal Tutoring in Higher Education. He has worked in student services management roles at the universities of Derby and New Orleans as well as serving as a Director, Trustee and Governor of the University of Roehampton and Bournemouth University Students’ Union.

Andrew Stork is a University Teacher and Programme Director for the Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education at the University of Sheffield. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has presented at national and international conferences on personal tutoring. He has experience of a wide range of educational sectors and contexts, and has taught on and led postgraduate education programmes across a range of sectors. Previously, he was cross-institutional quality lead for personal tutoring and student experience, and has held a broad range of curriculum leadership, quality, teaching enhancement and staff development positions. Find out more about Andrew’s work at www.andrewstork.co.uk.

Ben W Walker is a senior lecturer in Educational Development at Oxford Brookes University where he supports colleagues to gain fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, delivers staff development and undertakes educational research projects. In previous roles at the University of Lincoln, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Derby, he supported a wide range of trainee teachers and existing practitioners. He was programme leader of the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and has been an invited keynote speaker at national and international conferences. As co-author of books and journal articles on personal tutoring, he is at the forefront of professional development and research in this field and committed to developing it further. Find out more about Ben at http: //benwwalker.co.uk.