Ms Jo Lewis

As UWE’s Peer Coach Manager, I lead the operation and development of the University’s peer coaching and mentoring provision, working with colleagues across UWE to embed Peer Coaches within student learning, transition and career development activity.

Peer Coaching is centred on empowering students to build confidence, make informed choices and develop the academic, practical and career skills they need to succeed. It is particularly valuable at key transition points, helping students adjust to university life, build connections, develop positive habits and strengthen their sense of belonging. Ultimately, the approach is about helping students recognise their strengths, become more resourceful and develop the confidence to help themselves.

Our Learning and Practical Skills (LPS) Peer Coaches complement academic and study skills support by drawing on their own recent experience as students. They can relate directly to the questions and challenges students face, particularly at Foundation and Year 1, and use that shared experience to help students set goals, build confidence and engage more effectively with their studies.

Careers Peer Coaches complement the specialist support provided by Careers & Enterprise Learning Developers. They help students build confidence with career planning and areas such as CVs, interviews and job applications, while signposting them to appropriate Careers resources and services. Career Peer Coaches also contribute to wider Careers activity through curricular and extra-curricular workshops, projects and student-facing communications.

The Peer Coach team sits within Coaching Services in Student and Campus Life and works in partnership with colleagues across the University, particularly Programme Leads within Schools, Student Experience Coaches and Careers & Enterprise Learning Developers.

I have a particular interest in supporting students at key transition points and in using co-curricular opportunities to encourage cooperative learning, strengthen student connections and foster a greater sense of belonging. I’m also interested in staff development and creating opportunities for reflection, peer review and the sharing of learning and practice.

If you’d like to explore how Peer Coaches could support students within your College, School or programme, please contact me at jo.lewis@uwe.ac.uk.