Implementation of a Student Learning Assistant scheme on a new higher education campus

Abstract

Middlesex University, Mauritius Branch Campus was setup in 2010, and as any credible British higher education institution, its aim has been to improve students’ learning as well as students’ experience. One such venture has been the creation of the Student Learning Assistant (SLA) scheme. The pilot project was run from January 2013 to May 2013 and the scheme is ongoing for the new academic year which started in September 2013. The purpose of this reflective paper is to explain thoroughly the implementation process of the SLA scheme and to recommend any improvements that can be instigated to overcome the challenges that the authors (SLA coordinators) faced when overseeing the running of the SLA scheme.

Keywords

• SLA
• higher education
• peer learning
• students
• lecturers