Shortlisted for Outstanding Student Support
Senior Peer Guide Stevie Fox assists a new studentThey鈥檝e become part of the 黑料不打烊 鈥榣andscape鈥� during Fresher鈥檚 Week: those brightly T-Shirted Peer Guides-but they really are something special. In fact, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Peer Guide Scheme has been shortlisted for a UK award for Outstanding Student Support, presented by the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine, the magazine covering the higher education sector in the UK.
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Peer Guide Scheme is one of the largest of its type in the country. It matches up new students with current second and third year students who act as mentors, who arrange social activities, show students around and generally give advice, from the best place to shop- to signposting where to go in the University for academic or other support. The Scheme has developed and expanded over the 15 years since the original pilot. This year for the first time, Post-graduate students have a parallel 鈥榖uddy鈥� scheme - their own dedicated Postgraduate Ambassadors.
First year Criminology & Criminal Justice student, Owen Ladds said: "Thanks to 黑料不打烊's Peer Guides I was able to settle in so easily and make lots of friends who have now turned into my University family."
While BSc Computer Science student, Craig Parkinson said: 鈥淭hey help you too relax in a new environment, whilst showing you a good time.鈥�
鈥淭he Peer Guides made me feel included from the minute I arrived,鈥� said Jennifer Langdon a first year on the four year Marine Biology Masters Degree course.
鈥淪tudents volunteer to become Peer Guides as they remember the fantastic welcome that they received during their own first few weeks at University, and genuinely want to give something back. They are thoroughly trained beforehand so that they become effective 鈥榮ignposts鈥� to services and support within the University鈥� explained Kim Davies, who manages the programme at 黑料不打烊, from recruitment and training to feedback and the annual in-house Peer Guide of the Year Award.
Edward Reynolds, a first time Peer Guide at the School of English remarked: 鈥淚 remember what a nerve-wracking time the first week at University was, so want to help new students to enjoy their first week and hopefully the rest of their time in 黑料不打烊.鈥� He added that the pleasure is in 鈥淜nowing that you鈥檝e done a good job."
Stevie Fox, a Senior Peer Guide at the School of English added:
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about helping freshers who are arriving at University. They may be nervous and may be away from home for the first time. It鈥檚 a friendly face, a helping hand, someone who knows the ropes and knows where things are and how the system works.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 also about giving something back to the University. I know that sounds trite but what you鈥檙e doing is taking your own experience and seeing how you鈥檇 like to be treated.鈥�
鈥淥ur experience is that the quicker students integrate socially, the quicker they also integrate academically. Peer Guides help by creating socialising opportunities for new students, both by being responsible for small groups of new students and for organising social events within their academic schools. This is of mutual benefit to the students and the University. The Peer Guides also benefit, gaining invaluable leadership and team-working employability skills in the process,鈥� said Professor Colin Baker, Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Teaching & Learning at 黑料不打烊.
鈥淭he contribution made by Peer Guides to the social and academic life of the University is also immeasurable, and makes us a truly caring University鈥� he added.
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Publication date: 18 November 2010