Workshop series - Developing Academic Skills 2025-26
For colleagues who have an active role in teaching and/or supporting taught students’ academic skills development. Attend one, or attend them all
Centre for Teaching and Learning
Who are these workshops for?
The Developing Academic Skills Workshop Series is designed to support all colleagues who have an active role in teaching and/or supporting undergraduate and postgraduate taught students’ academic skills development.
This includes academic skills tutors or mentors, subject tutors, course directors, doctoral supervisors and librarians.
One introductory workshop is designed specifically for colleagues who specialise in academic skills support, for example, learning development officers, graduate study advisers or mentors, and academic skills lecturers or tutors in colleges, departments, faculties or professional services.
All other workshops are open to any colleagues who teach and/or support academic skills development, regardless of role.
View list of 2025-26 workshops below. You can attend one, or attend them all.
What will I do in the workshops?
Each workshop provides the opportunity to share your practice, learn from peers across the collegiate University, and connect with colleagues in different roles.
Sessions are interactive and activity based, drawing on both participants' expertise and evidence-informed educational concepts. You will leave each workshop with practical strategies and tools to use in your context, helping to create and sustain inclusive learning environments for our diverse student community.
Where and when are the workshops?
The interactive workshops are all in-person and take place in the 2025-26 academic year. You can attend one or as many of the workshops as you would like.
Each workshop will be held at Littlegate House (Seminar Room, Level 2), 16/17 St Ebbe's Street, Oxford OX1 1PT.
|
Introduction to supporting academic skills development at Oxford as an academic skills tutor, mentor or learning developer This workshop is specifically for colleagues in academic skills roles, for example learning development officers, graduate study advisers or mentors, and academic skills lecturers or tutors. You may be working in colleges, departments, faculties or professional services. Your role will include supporting students through 1-1 or small group sessions to develop their academic skills such as time management, academic writing, reading and note-taking, exams and revision. In the workshop, we will look at the remit and boundaries of the academic skills role, the skills, values and knowledge you need, as well as some of the common challenges you might encounter. We will identify and discuss the key differences between academic skills support and subject teaching. Finally, we will explore the key elements of structuring a 1-1 conversation effectively. |
Mon 29 Sep (Wk -1 MT25) 1.30-4.30pm |
|
Designing and planning academic skills support for the year ahead This workshop is open to all colleagues with an interest in supporting academic skills development in their teaching or learning support practice. In this workshop, we will explore the strengths and needs that students often bring in relation to academic skills. We will map the challenges students may face over the academic year on your course or area of study. We will look at ways of embedding academic skills support into your teaching, as well as different models of academic skills support.
|
Wed 1 Oct (Wk -1 MT25) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Developing students’ time management skills This workshop will explore how to support the development of students' time management skills and how they can impact on students' learning. For example, we will look at how to support students to develop a routine, plan work and project manage, catch up when behind, or tackle issues such as procrastination. |
Mon 6 Oct (Wk 0 MT25) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Developing students’ reading and note-making skills This workshop will explore how to support students to develop strategies to navigate reading lists and texts, manage note-making, and critical reading for assignments, dissertations and theses. We will also look at ways of embedding support for reading and note-taking into subject teaching. |
Mon 20 Oct (Wk 2 MT25) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Developing students’ academic writing skills 1: the writing process This workshop is the first of two sessions on developing students’ academic writing. In this workshop, we’ll focus on supporting students to manage the writing process. We’ll review and gather together practical strategies which you can deploy in your academic skills practice, teaching or research supervision. |
Mon 3 Nov (Wk 4 MT25) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Developing students' feedback literacy This workshop will look at ways in which academic skills tutors can support students to process and implement feedback. From a subject teaching perspective, we’ll explore methods for encouraging students to take more agency in their use of feedback. |
Mon 17 Nov (Wk 6 MT25) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Designing and planning academic skills workshops In this workshop, we’ll consider the possible differences between academic skills workshops and other types of teaching. We’ll review some key activity types you may consider using. You’ll work together to draft a workshop design and present it back for feedback. |
Mon 8 Dec (Wk 9 MT25) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Supporting students’ digital literacies Digital literacies are the capabilities required to learn and work in a digital university and society. The workshop will look at supporting students’ digital literacies alongside broader academic skills development. We’ll consider which digital literacies students may need in order to thrive in their subject area, and look at ways of fostering critical awareness around tool use. The workshop will include (but not be limited to) discussion of generative AI. |
Mon 12 Jan (Wk 0 HT26) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Developing students' academic writing skills 2: structuring and editing writing This second workshop on writing will explore ways of supporting students to structure and edit written products. We’ll review and collate practical activities which you can embed in your teaching, supervision or academic skills practice. |
Mon 26 Jan (Wk 2 HT26) 1.30-3.30pm |
|
Developing students’ exam and revision skills In this workshop, we will address how to support students to develop successful revision strategies as they prepare for exams. We will also look at developing effective exam techniques. |
Mon 23 Feb (Wk 6 HT26) 1.30-3.30pm |
Will you be repeating any of the workshops?
Subject to demand, we may repeat some of the workshops later in the academic year. If you would like to register your interest in a workshop repeat, please complete this form to let us know.
What do I get upon completion of the workshops?
Please note, the workshops do not lead to a teaching qualification, but you may be able to draw on your learning from these workshops and your academic skills teaching in any future teaching recognition applications.
How can I get a teaching qualification?
If you would like to gain formal recognition for your teaching practice at Oxford, you can apply for one of our accredited teaching programmes. Participating in this Developing Academic Skills workshop series will help you to reflect on how you can draw on your experience in academic skills development work to gain formal recognition via these programmes.
To be advised of future application deadlines, sign up to our mailing list.
Is there a fee for the workshops?
There is no fee to attend these workshops.
More events
Contact us
If you have a query, please contact us at
Stay informed
