1. Peer support at the University of Edinburgh

2. What is Peer Support? Peer Support is when students with more experience share their knowledge and expertise with new or less experienced students It is led and owned by students but facilitated by the University by providing a supportive framework

3. Benefits of Peer Support? Builds community amongst students Students learn to become more independent and to support each other – rather than relying on teaching staff Reduces the reliance on academic staff for support – allowing staff time to be spent on the really necessary cases For Peer Support leaders it provides an opportunity for students to develop leadership skills, to grow in confidence and maturity and to be recognised for this achievement. At Edinburgh we do this via the Edinburgh Award.

4. Training of Peer Support leaders All students involved in developing and leading Peer Support require training to ensure that all students receiving Peer Support experience a quality experience. At Edinburgh, training is provided by Edinburgh University Students’ Association and the University jointly.

5. Peer Support at Edinburgh All of the University’s 22 Schools have Peer Support available to at least one year group of the programme (typically first year of the undergraduate programme) There are over 40 Peer Support projects across the University. Last year there were over 500 Peer Support leaders and over 1200 international buddies – demonstrating the demand and willingness to contribute by our student community.

6. Peer Support at Edinburgh The Peer Support system is part of the overall framework of student support provided to students at Edinburgh. This includes the Personal Tutor System, Student Support Officers and support provided via central support services, such as the careers Service, the Student Counselling Service, the Student Disability Service etc.

7. Models of Peer Support at Edinburgh Models vary from informal to more structured: Peer-Assisted Learning Schemes (PALS) Academic Families Befriending Mentoring House Systems There is also a suite of Peer Support options tailored to the needs of specific student groups: International students Students with disabilities or learning differences Widening Participation

8. Issues to consider in launching a Peer Support scheme What is the main need of the student cohort? Which model of peer support would best meet these needs? What is the main aim of the project? What sort of skills do Peer Support leaders need to have? How will these skills be developed and supported? How can the scheme be supported by the faculty/department?

9. Supporting students to provide Peer Support Our experience of Peer Support suggests that most models are self- sustaining and do not require high-level of staff resource. However, to ensure ease of implementation and to support our students to develop and run Peer Support systems we have a comprehensive ‘toolkit’ of resources. The ‘toolkit’ provides guidance on various models of Peer Support. http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/learning-teaching/academic-pastoral/toolkit

10. PROFESSOR TINA HARRISON ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL