Arts, Humanities and Cultures

Clare Maxwell started work here in 2015, and has been seconded to the school four days per week since 2018. Caroline Campbell and Laetitia Monbec now join her for an additional two days per week. Although in the early days participation was limited to a dozen or so students from across the whole taught postgraduate (TPG) cohort, they currently average contact with around 180-200 students. They offer weekly 2-hour classes in Semesters 1 and 2, grouped by programme, liaising closely with programme and module leads to align sessions with input, reading lists and assignments on chosen core modules. Clare and Caroline open their in-sessional classes to all PGT students, who sign up to the courses voluntarily. They also offer student-led optional online drop-ins and 1:1 or small-group consultations.

Irene Addison-Child started work here in 2019 and has been seconded to the school four days per week. Catherine Macbean is joining the school this year to share the secondment. Initially participation was around twenty students from the MA programmes, but numbers have now grown to around 60 taught postgraduate students, as well as contact with around 180 undergraduate students as part of a Level 1 core module. Irene and Catherine offer weekly academic literacies workshops, plenary sessions embedded in the Research Project module and consultations. Irene also offers one-to-one writing support for postgraduate research students in the school.

Sara Montgomery started work here in [2015], and has been seconded to the school [four] days per week since [2018]. Although in the early days participation was limited to [a dozen or so] students from across [the whole taught postgraduate (TPG) cohort], she currently averages contact with around [180-200] students. She offers ...

Helen Sadig started working with Learning Advisors Jiani Liu and Clara Hiskey in 2022 to develop students’ academic literacies on PGT programmes in Linguistics, MAPLIS and Translation and Interpreting. Learning Advisor Oliver Neto took over from Jiani and Clara in 2024. In order to review and evaluate the partnership working approaches underpinning this embedded academic literacies provision by Language Centre and Learning Development colleagues, Helen and Jiani have been co-leading a scholarship project, which aims to inform future planning of the embedded partnership approach to supporting the development of students’ academic literacies and provide a working model upon which other collaborations might similarly be established.

Deirdre McKenna has also been working on the Academic Literacy programme for MA Film Studies since its beginning, delivering a weekly 2-hour seminar in both semesters. There was a cohort of 13 in the first year; the second iteration of the course grew to 40 students. Helen Sadig and Peter Matthews took over from Deirdre in 2023, and Peter is now working on this course with Barbara Himmelreich.

Simon Webster has been responsible for in-sessional provision in the School of Media since it was first introduced in 2015. This provision was initially targeted at taught postgraduate students but since 2019 he has also delivered academic literacy within a module for foundation year students. His role has now expanded to include individual academic consultations for both undergraduate and, occasionally, postgraduate research students in the School.

Angela Hulme is seconded to the school four days per week and works with post-graduate students on a range of MA programmes. In-sessional provision in the school began in 2015 with Angela taking on the role in 2018. Student numbers have grown from forty-five to eighty-three since then with international students being invited to participate in weekly workshops supporting specific modules. She has worked closely with programme and module leaders to design workshop programmes that develop students’ ability to communicate more effectively in their disciplines. She also offers consultations to PGT students in which they receive individual help with academic language and literacy. She works on projects with the school SALIP and is exploring opportunities to develop closer links with learning development advisors.

In 2023 Carolyn Edwards took over from Graham Greensit who established the first provision for all six postgraduate programmes in 2016 and developed it as the PGT cohort grew. Laura Richards (full time) and Anne Stazicker (part time) have since joined Carolyn, providing weekly small group scaffolding for the first core module assignment on each programme in Semester 1, and liaising with module and programme leaders to provide bespoke module assessment-specific workshops in Semester 2. They also offer individual consultations on all aspects of academic communication throughout both semesters.