Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)
The Programme
The Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) programme was established in 2008 so students could get help and assistance from fellow students with reagards to the Accounting, Finance and Quantitative Analysis content in BCom Core papers - compulsory papers for all BCom students.
These papers had historically high failure rates and were justifiably perceived by students as difficult and, therefore, hurdles to success.
What's Involved?
The study sessions are optional and supplement ordinary tutorials. Sessions are designed around content-specific issues, as well as general academic skills. For example, a session may involve working collaboratively on problem-solving, discussing approaches to a particular assignment, or practising typical exam questions.
Who Runs PASS Sessions?
The study sessions are facilitated by students, with an emphasis on “facilitation”. The programme concept was initiated by the University’s Student Learning Centre, which recruits and trains the student facilitators. The facilitators are second- and third-year students who have performed well in the paper and have the skills and desire to work in the programme.
Benefits & Achievements of the Prorgramme
Because the PASS programme has both a content-specific and general academic skills focus, it can play an important role in students’ integration into academia and overall satisfaction with their first-year experience.
The programme proved its effectivness in its first year. Students who attended most of the available sessions performed better than those who attended none; the average marks for the mid-semester and end results were significantly higher. The failure rate for non-PASS participants was 22.3 percent; for PASS participants 7.2 percent.