Qatar- GU-Q tutor training recognised by College Reading & Learning Association

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner, has earned College Reading & Learning Association's (CRLA) International Tutor Training Programme Certification.

This sets a new standard of academic support and grants GU-Q the authority to offer students professional credentials they take with them after graduation.

CRLA, which serves as an international benchmark and standard for excellent tutor training programmes, grants three levels of certification. Operating out of the university's Office of Academic Services ( OAS), GU-Q's tutor training programme can now offer CRLA's level 1 certification to students once they complete the professional development programme and complete 25 or more hours of tutoring services.

Anne Nebel, associate dean for teaching, learning and assessment at GU-Q, said, 'Targeting CRLA certification was an opportunity for the OAS team to thoroughly assess our tutor training programme and enrich it in ways that meet international standards. This demonstrates our commitment to excellence in both the process of developing our student tutors and the product of delivering high quality tutoring and academic support for all our students.

For the past three years, associate director of academic services, Laura Hiatt has been leading the effort to expand GU-Q's tutoring programme to align with CRLA's international standards and offer high level student support in accordance with Georgetown's values of academic excellence and service to others.

Peer tutors and undergraduate teaching assistants complete academic training that includes tutoring pedagogy, cultural awareness, communication and conflict management, academic integrity, and awareness of learning differences.

'University studies are challenging, which is why we have a robust academic support program to make sure every student has the resources they need to succeed academically, said Hiatt.

The training programme gives tutors the knowledge and skills to help their peers improve academically and now a professional certification attests to this. 'We have a number of student tutors and undergraduate teaching assistants who go on to become Teaching Assistants in graduate school or to work for Teach for Qatar, and it is absolutely beneficial for their future careers to have working knowledge of teaching practices as well as this professional credential, said Hiatt.

Last year alone, the programme offered over 1,400 appointments to undergraduate learners.

'Tutors who have finished the training and have already conducted 25 hours or more of tutoring will now be awarded level 1 certification, explained Hiatt, noting that plans are in place to expand to levels 2 and 3 in the future.

OAS provides tutoring in Arabic, French, economics, writing across the curriculum, and for select courses including Map of the Modern World, Calculus and Quantitative Methods for International Politics.

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