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Swansea University - Phil Brophy and Sara Huws-Davies

Under the theme of Student Engagement, initiatives include:

• Peer Assisted Study Support (PASS) - Swansea’s Learning and Teaching committee is currently considering a proposal to introduce a PASS system within certain first year degree programmes within the School of Business and Economics. PASS is a system based on the SI (Supplemental Instruction) model developed at the University of Missouri-Kansas City by Deanna C. Martin in 1973 and adapted by Jenni Wallace in the 1990s for use in British Higher Education. Student ‘Leaders’ recruited from the second and possibly third year cohorts within an academic School provide group sessions to supplement the more challenging aspects of the existing curriculum and facilitate the learning of first year students. 

Under the theme of Communities of Practice , initiatives include:

• Residential Services – Student Pre-Arrival Residences e-induction. This pre-arrival induction has been devised to provide students with some essential information on living in University accommodation before they arrive. The main objectives are: 
• To provide students with essential information regarding their safety whilst living in University accommodation such as fire evacuation procedures
• An introduction to the Residential Services department and other University staff to inform students of the key support services at the University
• To give students some idea of what they can expect from their University accommodation before they arrive
• To provide some essential information regarding their tenancy (less formally than in their contract) so students are aware of their responsibilities and Residential Services’ responsibility towards them as residents.
• To ensure complete compliance with the Universities UK Code of Practice with regards to the induction process. 
• Money Advice and Support – Money Doctors’ Project. Swansea University was selected by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) as an ‘Early Developer’ of ‘Money Doctors’, an innovative programme to help students develop money management skills. The programme offers workshop sessions and advice to help students confront debt, take control of their money and plan for the future. Money Doctors now constitutes part of an accredited module in some first year degree programmes within the School of Business and Economics and the School of Arts. Workshops include:          
• Debt Counselling – Dealing with your creditors and agreeing a reduced payment plan
• Housing issues – dealing with arrears, landlords etc.
• Banking Advice – best deals, information leaflets, jargon busting etc.
• Welfare benefits – what you can and cannot claim for as a student
• Living independently – moving from halls of residence and entering the private accommodation market
• Credit cards – everything they need to know about credit cards
• Childcare issues – how to get financial support for childcare costs
• Budgeting and Money management – planning income and expenditure 
• What does it cost being a student – including advice on unexpected and hidden expenditure. 
• Student Services – Arrivals Weekend. New students and their parents are provided with refreshments and welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor and key staff from the University and Students’ Union. Staff are on hand to provide help, information and reassurance to new students and anxious parents.
• Student Services Help Desk. The Help Desk, staffed by student volunteers and managed by a member of Student Services staff, operates over arrivals weekend and throughout Freshers’ Week. From this point, new students can get help, information, join campus tours, send an email home and access professional support services if required.
• International Student Advisory Service – Orientation Programme for new international students. The Orientation programme operates over Arrivals weekend. There is a full programme of information sessions, social and networking events, and trips to places of local interest as well as an International Welcome reception attended by the Vive-Chancellor and Lord mayor of Swansea. 
• International Office – Meet and Greet. The International Office operates an airport pick-up service for first year international students from London’s Heathrow Airport over arrivals weekend at the beginning of the academic year.

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