The 'Advantage Initiative'

The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) is very keen to expand its support of students' learning development by offering an additional initiative called the Advantage Initiative (AI).

What is the 'Advantage Initiative'?

The 'Advantage Initiative' (AI) is a Student Learning Advisory Service initiative, established in 2007. If offers Schools and partner/associate colleges the opportunity of embedding tailor-made study skills sessions within their core modules. Student Learning Advisors deliver the study skills sessions in collaboration with module tutors and thus form part of a targeted and integrated approach to learning.

AI involves a shift of emphasis towards partnerships with Schools, and away from exclusively relying on centralised provision. It ensures that study skills are integrated within the core modules and form an integral part of a student's entitlement. The danger of students perceiving SLAS as only remedial and generic is thus removed.

Embedding these basic skills within core modules and offering AI sessions on all of the campuses and teaching centres (including partner and associate colleges) contributes significantly to the quality and enhancement of the student experience.

This initiative is beneficial to ALL students - AI provides a bridge for first year students moving into higher education and for mature students returning to study. This function continues beyond the first year of study where AI sessions are offered to other years and to postgraduate students.

Increasing levels of demand for the service demonstrate that AI is meeting a real need and plays a valued part in the overall success of the University.

The advantages are as follow:-

  • Students and their perceptions
  • Quality of Student experience
  • Greater level of support and engagement from students
  • Enhancement of Student Learning Experience
  • Improvement of Student Learning Experience
  • Parity of experience
  • Entitlement for all
  • Developmental and NOT remedial
  • Retention programme taking place right at the beginning of a student's start at university - Bridges the gap.
  • Asset for departments
  • Shortcut: saves time for departments
  • Innovation and best practice
  • Good practice to share and disseminate
  • Value for money
  • Ownership/buying-in
  • SLAS - outward facing / outreach