Empowering students and helping them experience success (using SI-PASS)

SI-PASS is an academic assistance program that provides help for students in “difficult” courses, often introductory courses for first-year students. The idea behind SI is that learning a subject is enhanced by an exchange of thoughts and ideas between students. The goal is to make the students become active and independent learners that sees peers as a learning resource. SI-PASS is connected to a “difficult” course and consists of weekly scheduled sessions led by an older student. The older student acts as a facilitator and receives prior and ongoing training. (The senior student should not be a teacher but help in clarifying tough questions within the subject by asking questions, initiating work in small groups, and coordinate presentations of conclusions). The session is open to all students (heterogeneity is encouraged) and usually has 5-15 participants. The session agenda is decided by the participants and the course material is processed using collaborative activities. SI-PASS as a concept is spread widely and is used at more than 2000 university colleges and universities in nearly 30 countries. SI-PASS has shown to reduce failure rates and increase reenrollment numbers. The programme has also been shown to benefit all students with different prior academic ability.