“Overall this is an excellent text, particularly relevant in these metrics-orientated times (particularly in relation to the TEF in the UK), where any systematic guidance on how we can undertake core roles is enormously helpful. With this handbook as a guide, personal tutors and those who guide them have an invaluable resource on which to draw, equipping them far better than those of yesteryear.”
Sally Brown – Emerita Professor – Leeds Beckett University
“The book is very well structured and is underpinned with wide reading and research. The inclusion of interactive elements such as the Critical Reflections and the Personal Tutor Self-Assessment System are engaging and encourage the reader to focus on the key messages and apply the learning. The book has a logical flow, moving from the key principles of the role in chapters 1-5, to the higher level skills in chapter 6 onwards. All of these elements made the book very readable and a valuable resource for tutors, in particular those who are new to the role. Moreover, the shortage of texts for personal tutors makes this book even more important and I feel it will contribute significantly to the enhancement of personal tutoring.”
Dr. Kathryn McFarlane – Independent HE Consultant
“Personal tutors are at the front line of what we are trying to achieve in universities. This book is for them. In fact, this book is for anyone who advises students. In the UK, that is often, although not always, an academic …. There is a very good chapter on reflective practice that I will be recommending as a stand-alone read to one of my doctor of education students. Indeed, one of the design features of the book is that one can dip in and out of it as required, or read the chapters in a different order. …. In summary, the authors provide a very useful resource, incorporating a range of references, case studies and critical thinking exercises as well as checklists at the end of each chapter. .”
Times Higher Education Review (Oct 2019) – Book review by Dr. Harriet Dunbar-Morris
Dr. Harriet Dunbar-Morris – Reader in Higher Education and Dean of Learning and Teaching – University of Portsmouth
“This book is an important addition to the field of personal tutoring and academic advising. The structure of the chapters in this text makes it the perfect training tool for new advisors and a great reference for experienced advisors. The case studies, critical thinking activities, and discussions make the content come alive. Every personal tutor, advisor and support services or advising administrator needs this book in their toolkit.”
Amy Sannes – President of NACADA, The Global Community for Academic Advising
“The book is innovative; although firmly based on relevant research and with wide reference to literature on the subject, the approach is essentially practical. This is not a book to be read once and put to one side, but one to be used as an ongoing resource and toolkit, by the experienced tutor or advisor as well as the beginner. The former will find ideas for refreshing his or her approach, while the latter will be helped to gain confidence at an early career stage. The authors are to be congratulated on this excellent contribution to an area of vital and growing importance in higher education.”
Penny Robinson – Chair of the UK Advising and Tutoring (UKAT) Executive Committee
“The book offers an impressive blend of scholarly thinking about personal tutoring and related issues, drawing on leading research and models in the field, and practical guidance.”
Professor Liz Thomas – independent researcher and consultant for higher education and Professor of Higher Education at Edge Hill University
“Your book has been my bible of “how to” establish Academic Advising in the Australian Regional context. It provided the insight I needed to conceptualise what advising could look like in a more practical and operational sense. I found the inclusion of practical ideas, critical thinking activities and the self-assessment system to be a helpful mechanism to better understand how and why advisers impact the student experience. The book provides a cohesive roadmap for effective advising, yet provides space to shape advising within our unique regional context. I have combined sections of the book with other carefully curated and contextually specific resources to train and develop both professional and academic staff in advising roles to provide a quality, solution-focused approach to student success. I know I will continue to use this book for many years to come as we refine and mature our advising approach.”
Dr. Catherine Picton – Project Manager, Regional University Network – University of The Sunshine Coast, Australia
“I am very impressed with this book and would recommend it to my colleagues and anyone with an interest in student support. I will also be recommending this to colleagues involved in any teaching and learning activities, and quality enhancement. I find the content of the book is very accessible and well presented.”
Dr. Annabel Yale – Lecturer in Education – Edge Hill University
“Excellent book! It is accessible, practical, and grounded in solid theory and evidence-based research.”
Ricky Lowes – Lecturer and Senior Personal Tutor (Business School) – University of Plymouth
“It has been a very useful source of information in the implementation of the coaching approaches within the personal academic tutoring (PAT) strategy. For example, we have developed a series of coaching approach question ‘sets’ on which to base the ‘agenda’ for each PAT meeting”
Dr. Julie de Witt – Senior lecturer in Diagnostic Imaging – University of Derby
“The book is very useful, covering key aspects of personal tutoring and, of course, bang up to date with what is going on across the sector. I will be integrating some of the activities into my sessions and encouraging my colleagues to access it. It is on the recommended reading list for our Introduction to Learning and Teaching programme and our Kingston Academic Practice scheme, which is our AdvanceHE accredited CPD framework”
Penny Burden – Associate Professor and Kingston Academic Practice Director – Kingston University
“I will be adding this book as a priority read for all academics joining our university’s teacher training provision.”
Dr. Daniella Ryding – Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing and Retail – University of Manchester
“This book is an insightful, practical guide to what makes for effective personal tutoring in contemporary UK HE. It is commendable for the values-based approach it takes, and for its focus throughout on developing personal tutors’ practical skills in inclusive and empathetic ways. It offers an introduction to a solution-based coaching approach that tutors can begin to practise and offers a wealth of additional reading and resources to help practitioners develop their individual approaches to this essential practice. I used the book this year when conducting revisions to a longstanding module on student support and personal tutoring. The ideas and insights I gained from this book – the first book to be published on personal tutoring for a significant period – have been transformational. I have recommended it to colleagues and will continue to do so.”
Dr Ruth Windscheffel – Lecturer in Educational Development – University of London
“I have used this text primarily in conjunction with institution wide training (Fundamentals of Academic Advising). I found the text to be a well-informed, accessible read with a range of very practical examples, some of which I have drawn on to use as tasks within the training. I’ve subsequently had conversations with individuals who have utilised the text themselves with peers and students. All in all, a very useful text that adds a vitally important angle to the literature in this area.”
Melissa Jacobi – Academic Director for Academic Advising – Sheffield Hallam University
“This book has been invaluable to me as a practitioner, not only does it inform my own practice but also the practice of the colleagues I mentor. I have been able to identify areas of sound practice that can be adapted to suit my role at the University of Southampton aiding my own development in this field. In addition, I have made it a core text on our PGCAP course and our library now stock it as both hard copy and eVersions. I am also using the approaches contained within as a part of the training I am doing for new Personal Academic Tutors.”
Dr Ann Bingham – Senior Teaching Fellow (Academic Development) – University of Southampton
“This publication should be on the bookshelves of all those that work with students in Higher Education. For individuals new to personal tutoring, as well as seasoned professionals this will become a well-used handbook. The layout and content provides excellent resources in supporting your students’ success.”
Yvonne Halden – Student Advisor and NACADA Regional Chair – THE Global Community of Academic Advising
“The book is well written and easily accessible. We will be recommending it to our students on the PgCert for Professional Academic Practice and for our Academic Professional Apprenticeship”
Professor Lesley-Jane Eales-Reynolds – University of West London
“My overall impression is that it’s very clear and hand-on. I think the way the content is divided up is helpful and the illustrative examples are great. I intend to use it in staff development sessions and refresher training for personal tutors.”
Dr. Jane Evison – Assistant Professor – University of Nottingham
“It is comprehensive, practical and very current in the sense that it helps with the reality of personal tutoring in HE today. I will be using it to reflect on and further develop the online course and practical workshop I currently offer for personal tutors at Swansea University. This book fills a huge gap in the market for personal tutors and is helping to raise awareness across the sector of the importance of one-to-one interactions with students to support and guide their personal and professional development. I have recommended it to all the teaching staff at Swansea University and to our Academy of Learning and Teaching who run our in-house PGCE.”
Alison Braddock – Manager, Swansea Academy of Inclusivity and Learner Success – Swansea University
“Very good impression – well written and research based.”
Dr. Lorraine Dacre-pool – Principal Lecturer – Student and Staff Development – University of Central Lancashire
“Excellent overall summary of personal tutoring that I have used to inform our personal tutoring training and support.”
Ian Coleman – Learning and Organisation Development Consultant – De Montfort University
“My writing on the new Academic Progress Tutor Framework was very much influenced and supported by this book”
Dr. Sian Etherington – Educational Developer – University of Salford
“The book is an essential guide to modern notions of personal tutoring which will prove useful to our Senior Tutors and Personal Tutors. It also opens up a number of questions in regards to the expectations of the role from an institution, student and personal tutor perspective, as well as providing questions and answers to potential scenarios and issues that might be encountered.”
Tony Chapman-Wilson – University Peer Mentoring Coordinator – Newcastle University
“I am responsible for developing and implementing personal tutoring frameworks in a large undergraduate and postgraduate Engineering Department. This publication has proved to be an invaluable resource for developing material and improving staff engagement and understanding of how to deliver personal tutoring sessions. The publication effectively disseminates the salient points to a large body of knowledge on personal tutoring in higher education in an easily accessible manner. This is a resource that I would recommend to policy makers, and personal tutors to support both framework and staff development.”
Dr. Lisa Simmons – Senior Lecturer – Manchester Metropolitan University