Teesside University recognised with two national awards for student support

Teesside University has received two national awards in recognition of its innovative approach to student support and personal tutoring.

The University was presented with both the Innovation in Advising Individual Award and the Innovation in Advising Institutional Award by the UK Advising and Tutoring Association (UKAT).

UKAT is a charitable trust and learned society founded in 2015 that recognises excellence in personal tutoring and academic advising across the UK.

Each year, UKAT honours individuals and institutions that demonstrate outstanding commitment to supporting students through personal tutoring and academic advising, as well as contributing to the development of best practice in the sector.

The Individual Award was presented to Stacy Spurr, Student Journey Manager at Teesside University, in recognition of her work redesigning the University’s personal tutoring approach.

Stacy’s student-centred practice, which includes the creative use of memes, has helped to create a more personalised, engaging and relaxed experience for students when accessing personal tutoring support.

Teesside University also received the Institutional Award, which recognises higher education institutions that demonstrate outstanding innovation in their institutional approach to academic advising.

The University has enhanced its academic advising through the use of learner analytics, allowing for greater insight into student needs and the early identification of those who may require additional support.

The University can also offer group based personal tutoring to further support students in their studies.

Teesside University is committed to placing students at the heart of everything it does and is delighted to receive these awards in recognition of the personal tutoring development team’s creative use of data, theory informed advising and innovative training practices.

Catherine Davidson, Head of Student Success at Teesside University, said: “As a university which puts students at the heart of everything we do, it is fantastic to receive this validation for our efforts to constantly improve and enhance the way in which we support students throughout their studies.

“The difference Stacy has made to personal tutoring at Teesside University cannot be understated. She is outstanding at everything she does and continues to inspire others to maintain a strong focus on student centred support and rapport building across the team."

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