Frequently Asked Questions

As a PAL Leader, you will:

• Receive 4 days training, focussing on personal skills such as leadership, teamwork, interpersonal communication, facilitation and coaching skills.
• Increase your confidence, especially in situations when teamwork is required to attain a goal.
• Gain valuable experience to enhance your CV.
• Be able to revise and practice your subject, and gain a deeper understanding of it.
• Have the opportunity to attend conferences and events, and to network with leaders from other institutions.
• Receive a certificate and academic credits at Level 2 and 3.

As a PAL Leader, you will be assigned a minimum of one and a maximum of three PAL sessions per week (some flexibility will be required). You will need to plan for your sessions and reflect on them.

You can expect anything between 15 and 40 students to be assigned to a PAL session.

Before you start your PAL sessions you will receive 4 days training, focussing on personal skills such as leadership, teamwork, interpersonal communication, facilitation and coaching skills.

Prior to your PAL sessions, your PAL academic contact will brief you on the topics you’ll be expected to cover in your sessions. You’ll also have access to the first year module on Blackboard so that you can keep track on what has been covered in the lectures.

Your students will also ask you to prepare topics which they need extra support with.

This will depend on the number of students on the module.

The responsibilities of a PAL Leader are to:

• Offer weekly PAL sessions from September to May.
• Facilitate group discussions in PAL sessions using interactive learning strategies and techniques rather than lecture or complete students' coursework.
• Make students aware that PAL sessions are a supplement to lectures and not a replacement.
• Demonstrate good study habits and learning strategies to students attending PAL sessions.
• Attend the initial PAL Leader training and follow-up training.
• Maintain contact with the PAL Coordinator and your PAL Academic contact.
• Gather student evaluation information as required from time to time.
• Complete weekly session plans, self-reflection forms and attendance registers.
• Maintain a professional attitude on issues such as confidentiality, marks, standards and student complaints.

Our recruitment period runs from February to April. To apply, complete the PAL Leader application form.

You can apply to become a PAL Leader for:

• an academic module where PAL is offered
• PAL Careers Services
• PAL Library Services (Frenchay, Bower Ashton, St. Matthias)
• PAL Global Student Support.

If you have already been a PAL Leader, you can apply to become a PAL Intern.

Business and Law

• A Quantitative Approach to Economics
• Business Statistics & Decision Making for Marketing
• Business Statistics & Decision Making For Accounting
• Business Statistics & Decision Making
• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Understanding Financial Information
• Law

Arts, Creative Industries and Education

• Ancient Philosophy
• Animation
• Engagement with Mathematical Enquiry
• Engagement with Mathematical Enquiry Early Years
• Film Cultures
• Introduction to Philosophy
• Journalism
• Media and Cultural Studies Foundations
• Photography
• Writing about Reading/Reading about Writing

Environment and Technology

• Aero Structures
• Business Applications
• Calculus
• Computer Science Concepts
• Computer Systems Architecture
• C Programming
• C++ Programming
• Digital Design Implementation
• Digital Design Skills
• Digital Systems Development
• Electrical Interface
• Engineering for Designers
• Engineering Principles A
• Information Design
• Information Systems Practice
• Introduction to Robotics
• Introduction to the Web
• Introduction to Programming Audio
• Mathematics For Engineers
• Robotics Group Project
• Stress & Dynamics
• Design Studio A
• Earth Systems
• Economy, Society & the Built Environment
• Healthy Sustainable Communities
• Introduction to Building Science
• Mechanics & Science of Materials

Health and Life Sciences

• Diagnostic Imaging
• Essentials of Professional Practice
• Physiotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Research Design & Analysis 1
• Scientific Skills (Forensic)
• Scientific & Analytical Skills (Bioscience)
• Social Policy
• Key Concepts for Social Work Practice

The expected overall mark in Year 1 refers to the overall mark for your course that you expect to obtain at the end of the year. You can express this as a percentage, 1:1, 1:2, etc.

Please state the address where you are likely to be during the summer.

Any academic member of staff who knows you well and who would be happy to comment on your academic performance.

You’ll be invited to attend an informative session where you’ll be given more information about the scheme and about your role. If you feel it’s not for you, you can choose to opt out.

The PAL scheme is pretty much a self-selective scheme. If you’re a good all-round student and have a passion for helping others, the likelihood is that you will not be turned down. The only condition is that you must have passed the module that you're applying to become a PAL Leader for.

You’ll be required to attend our initial training sessions (one day in May/June, two days in September, 1 day in January).

Attending PAL sessions is compulsory for first year students, and they appear on your timetable.

Statistical analysis has also shown that those who regularly attend PAL sessions throughout the year achieve better marks.

Benefits include:

• Helps new students adjust to higher education.
• Improves ability to master module concepts by providing students with an opportunity to discuss or practice their subject in a safe place.
• Helps build confidence and self esteem.
• Develops enhanced study habits.
• Gives discreet support to those who need help.
• PAL Leaders provide a clear view of module direction and expectations.

Yes. There is no restriction as to how many sessions you can attend.

Yes. If there is a session which is more convenient for you, then you just need to let your PAL Leader know.

PAL sessions are not a substitute for lectures. You must ensure that you attend your lectures, seminars, tutorials and PAL sessions.

Business and Law

• A Quantitative Approach to Economics
• Business Statistics & Decision Making for Marketing
• Business Statistics & Decision Making For Accounting
• Business Statistics & Decision Making
• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Understanding Financial Information
• Law

Arts, Creative Industries and Education

• Ancient Philosophy
• Animation
• Engagement with Mathematical Enquiry
• Engagement with Mathematical Enquiry Early Years
• Film Cultures
• Introduction to Philosophy
• Journalism
• Media and Cultural Studies Foundations
• Photography
• Writing about Reading/Reading about Writing

Environment and Technology

• Aero Structures
• Business Applications
• Calculus
• Computer Science Concepts
• Computer Systems Architecture
• C Programming
• C++ Programming
• Digital Design Implementation
• Digital Design Skills
• Digital Systems Development
• Electrical Interface
• Engineering for Designers
• Engineering Principles A
• Information Design
• Information Systems Practice
• Introduction to Robotics
• Introduction to the Web
• Introduction to Programming Audio
• Mathematics For Engineers
• Robotics Group Project
• Stress & Dynamics
• Design Studio A
• Earth Systems
• Economy, Society & the Built Environment
• Healthy Sustainable Communities
• Introduction to Building Science
• Mechanics & Science of Materials

Health and Life Sciences

• Diagnostic Imaging
• Essentials of Professional Practice
• Physiotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Research Design & Analysis 1
• Scientific Skills (Forensic)
• Scientific & Analytical Skills (Bioscience)
• Social Policy
• Key Concepts for Social Work Practice

Yes. The PAL Leader will not pass on any private information to academics.

Your PAL Leader will give you guidance and tips on how to best approach your coursework, but will not do your coursework for you!

All feedback about PAL is greatly appreciated. Please e-mail pal@uwe.ac.uk.

If you need any paper/photocopies etc for you session, just ask someone in the PAL office.

If you are not able to run a PAL session, please try and get cover for your session by asking one of the other PAL Leaders for your module. You will also need to advise someone in the PAL office.

You need to contact the PAL office as soon as you can.

Unfortunately, we are unable to process back-dated timesheets. Please ensure that you send in your completed timesheet at the end of each month to ensure that you get paid.

In order to earn your PAL Certificate, you must complete a full academic year (exceptions apply to Leaders on Glenside and Gloucester campuses).

You will need to attend your PAL ceremony to receive your certificate. However, we are able to make other arrangements in special cases.

There are usually four follow-up-training sessions in the academic year and attendance is compulsory.

All PAL Leaders will be enrolled on the PAL module. At the end of each month you will have to submit plans, reviews, observations and registers for each of your sessions through Blackboard.

The PAL module is a 20-credit module at Level 2. Please note that these credits will not contribute to your overall degree classification. They will appear on your transcript as an extra module.

As part of our quality assurance, we will assign you a PAL Intern (3^rd year student who has been a PAL Leader), who will observe some of your sessions and give you feedback and support throughout the year.

The PAL team will be more than happy to provide you with a reference upon request.

A PAL Intern is usually a 3^rd or 4^th year student who has previously been a PAL Leader.

After initial training, PAL Interns will be expected to:

• Support PAL Leaders through session observation, feedback sessions, e-mail, online, etc.
• Act as a link between PAL Leaders and the PAL Office.
• Monitor attendance to PAL sessions.
• Assist in PAL Leader training and recruitment sessions.
• Hold PAL Leader debriefs from time to time.
• Gather PAL Leaders' evaluation information.
• Input data on the PAL database.
• Maintain a professional attitude on issues such as confidentiality, marks, standards and student complaints.

Yes, you will be required to attend a one-day training session.

The time commitment is very flexible ranging from anything between 3-10 hours per week. You’ll be assigned a group of PAL Leaders at the start of the year, and you will be expected to set up meetings and observations based on your availability.

• Progression on your CV.
• A responsible role which will help you develop your coaching and mentoring skills.
• Academic credit at Level 3
• ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management)

You need to send your request to pal@uwe.ac.uk.

As a PAL Academic you will be requested to hold an initial meeting with your PAL Leaders in order to give them guidance on what you'd like them to cover in their PAL sessions and ensure you keep in touch with them regularly. You will also need to encourage students to attend PAL sessions.

Please e-mail pal@uwe.ac.uk.