Developing an Extra-Curricular Activities Scheme to Enhance a Students’ Academic and Personal Journey

Within the School of Science and Engineering at Teesside University an Extra-Curricular Scheme was launched in September 2017 as a means to encourage students to engage with the campus and build meaningful relationships with their peers. In addition, it encouraged students to try new experiences while providing support mechanisms for them within their academic and professional journey. The underlying ethos of the Scheme was to improve retention through enhancing study skills and the student experience. The scheme also provides support for Personal Tutors by providing a clearly signposted set of resources to refer their students to.
Activities are divided into three key areas and mirrored closely to those of Teesside Universities Personal Tutoring Code of Practice:
• Wellbeing (pastoral)
• Academic
• Professional
Academic activities revolved around enhancing the students abilities to succeed in their studies and include presentation, exam and digital skills sessions. These areas had been previously highlighted by students as being particular areas of concern.
In 2020, the Extra-Curricular Scheme was rolled out to 4 of the 5 Schools within the University with a focus on developing autonomous learners through academic and professional support. To quote one student who attended a Sketnoting for Study Skills session “seriously .... drawing flags, boats and hippopotamus' has changed my life !!!!”