What is PAMS?
Peer Academic Mentoring Support (PAMS) is a structured programme designed to offer additional academic support to students as they navigate their first year in their university journey. Recognizing that the transition to university life can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially for first-year students, PAMS connects them with peer mentors from the second or third year who understand their experiences and can provide meaningful guidance and support.
PAMS focuses on creating opportunities for students to support one another, academically, in meaningful ways. Through this programme, peer mentors offer friendly guidance, encouragement, and valuable insights to help mentees navigate their university journey. By formalising the natural, informal connections that often develop among students, PAMS ensures a supportive structure where everyone involved can thrive and grow.
Scheme Details
The PAMS is being piloted in selected undergraduate programmes from February to July 2025. Each mentor will be paired with up to 5 mentees, ensuring personalised and effective academic support. Mentors are required to meet with each mentee for one hour per week over a period of 10 weeks, resulting in a total of 10 hours of interaction per mentee.
- Session Organisation: Mentors will coordinate with their mentees to schedule these sessions at mutually convenient times.
- Payment: Mentors will be compensated at a rate of £14.66 per hour for their time and contributions.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 26 January 2025
- Mentor Training: 27 January – 2 February 2025
- Mentoring Sessions: February – May 2025
- Session Review and Evaluation: May – June 2025
Why Take Part
Peer mentoring fosters a strong sense of belonging within the university community and enriches the university experience for both mentees and mentors.
Benefits to Mentee:
- Provides a safe learning environment where mentees can ask questions and receive guidance from experienced students.
- Offers the opportunity to explore course content in an active learning environment, allowing mistakes without fear or judgment.
- Helps build confidence with course material and develop positive attitudes towards their subject and learning.
- Keeps mentees on track with their work, increasing the likelihood of completing mentees' course of study.
- Inclusive programme, benefiting all students regardless of their current academic ability, with the possibility of improving performance.
Benefits to Mentor:
- Develops key leadership skills that will support mentors throughout their university journey.
- Enhances employability skills, helping mentors stand out in the competitive graduate employment market.
- Improves communication skills and builds both personal and professional confidence.
- Provides the opportunity to revisit and consolidate prior learning, deepening subject understanding and potentially improving grades.
- Fosters a sense of belonging by taking on a position of responsibility within the university.
- The skills gained in the project can be used to claim a City St George's Skills Awards
How to Get Involved
Becoming a Mentor
For the 2024-2025 academic year, student academic mentors will be selected exclusively from the current pool of Student Ambassadors and student advisors. The application process for the 2024-2025 Student Ambassador cycle is now closed. If you’re interested in future opportunities to become a mentor, we encourage you to register your interest using this form. We’ll notify you via email when applications reopen or if similar roles become available.
Job Description: PAMS JD August 20241
Becoming a Mentee
If you’d like to participate as a mentee, please email us at studentpartnership@sgul.ac.uk to express your interest.
Contact Us
For any questions or additional information about the PAMS programme, please reach out to us at studentpartnership@sgul.ac.uk.