ADU’s @ADU_Tweets Learning Support Center achieves a phenomenal 91% increase in ‘A’ grades by transforming students into role models

Revamped state-of-the-art center redefines peer-to-peer knowledge transfer to elevate academic standards

In what is set to be a remarkable case study of the power of student-to-student mentorship by ADU, Abu Dhabi’s Learning Support Center has achieved an astounding 93% increase in ‘A’ grades among male participants, whil etheir female counterparts have seen their ‘A’ grades soar by 88%, for an average increase of 91%.

Uplifted by these results, the university has extensively renovated the center, equipping it with state-of-the-art ICT facilities such as laptops, PCs and wireless internet connections for smarter networking, while also revamping the décor to create a friendlier, more relaxing environment for passionate knowledge sharing. Highly gifted students volunteer to mentor their peers free of charge, five days a week.

The upgraded Learning Support Center was recently inaugurated by Dr Nabil Ibrahim, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University. Mrs Hala Nazmy, the LSC Coordinator, explained the strengths behind the center’s exceptional success: “We understand that students learn better from other students, because they are inspired by young role models who have studied the same courses and faced the same challenges. Tutoring is only one part of the chain reaction, because the peer mentors also provide advice and guidance to invigorate the students and transform them into goal-driven achievers. Learning is meant to be an enjoyable journey of discovery, so we eliminate all the pressure by having one-on-one interactions and small, study groups.” 

Over 1,000 students have benefited fromthe center’s services since its inception in 2012, enjoying support outside the lecture rooms via two main channels: Peer Assisted Learning and the Learning Community. Under Peer Assisted Learning, mentoring and tutoring is spearheaded by students who have achieved exceptional academic records, guided by the LSC Coordinator. This has inspired higher grades in core courses for Math and Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, with assistance in additional courses available on request. Through the Learning Community students can access support in courses offered by the University College, although this is expected to expand to other programs.

Mrs Hala Nazmy concluded: “Due to the overwhelming popularity of this center, we have put plans in place to increase our operating hours and facilitate online collaboration among students, giving them 24/7 access to guidance and motivation. We are also keen to diversify our activities -and with more student mentors coming on board, we can provide even more personalized attention for each student.”