Tutor Perceptions of the Personal Academic Tutor Role: An Appreciative Inquiry

The research project came about as a result of informal conversations between teaching staff in the Department for Children and Families at the University of Worcester (UW). Anecdotal evidence suggested that staff whose roles included that of Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) had a variety of ideas and strategies evolved through experience and we wanted to learn more, challenge our assumptions and share best practice with colleagues across the School of Education.
Responses in relation to workload, PAT boundaries and accessibility were interesting. Challenges of the role and the importance of self-care were also explored.