SDS’ Peer-to-Peer Tutoring Programme Promises Academic Excellence

Sunway Diploma Studies (SDS) recently introduced an innovative initiative called the Peer-to-Peer Tutoring programme as a platform for students to excel together, harnessing the power of collaboration and camaraderie.

So far, around 22 students comprise of 11 tutors and 11 tutees have eagerly signed up for the programme which validates several key aspects including a keen interest among students in benefiting from peer tutoring opportunities, a level of trust in the effectiveness of the learning approach and confidence in their peers’ abilities to provide meaningful support, as well as a sense of community and solidarity within the student body.

According to Director of SDS, Puan Adawiyah Norli Yusuf, Peer-to-Peer programme offers numerous benefits to the entire academic community. It enhances subject understanding, promotes student engagement through social interaction, develops soft skills, fosters social skills, improves academic performance, reduces academic disparities, and promotes lifelong learning.

Additionally, the programme is fully dependent on the students’ availability as they will be communicating closely to set the date for their own tutor lesson. This does not only create a special bond among the students but also increases their time management skills in the long run. However, the Peer-to-Peer programme still has its own guidelines to ensure that the students will eventually achieve its maximum benefits such as conducting the lessons on campus between 8.30am until 5pm.

Head of Diploma in Finance and Accounting, Leon Siew Lin asserts, “The tutor gains a deeper understanding of a topic by teaching it to another student. Peer-to-Peer tutoring creates more opportunities for students to practise specific skills, leading to better retention.”

Ang Zhin Sze, serving as a peer tutor for accounting expresses, "Engaging as a tutor significantly aids in my personal revision. It's fulfilling to contribute to others' learning while reinforcing my own understanding. I'm grateful to SDS for fostering this opportunity to connect with peers."

Reflecting on her experience on the other hand, Zhin Sze's peer tutee, Joyce Ng shares, "As a novice in Accounting, I've learned so much about the subject ever since I joined Peer-to-Peer tutoring. I want to thank SDS for giving me a chance to get to know more friends and, most importantly, a chance to actually understand accounting."

Nancya Agusto Heng, acting as a peer tutor for Communication, teaching Malay to an international student, remarks, "Participating as a tutor in this initiative has facilitated my own reacquaintance with the Malay language while assisting a fellow international student."

In response, Yusra Cusba Mohamed, Nancya's peer tutee, reflects, "My involvement as a peer tutee has been both enjoyable and enriching. Collaborating with peers of similar age has deepened my comprehension of common obstacles and triumphs in class. The exchange of insights among fellow students has augmented our collective learning journey, fostering a fulfilling educational experience."

As we witness the transformative impact of peer collaboration on individual learners like Ang Zhin Sze, Joyce Ng, Nancya Agusto Heng, and Yusra Cusba Mohamed, we are reminded of the immense potential that lies within each student to both give and receive knowledge.

With that, we extend an open invitation to all students to embark on this journey of mutual learning and support. After all, in the world of peer tutoring, as in life, the more participants we have, the merrier our journey becomes.

This article is written by the lecturers of SDS, Natalie Loh Woon Lan and Mieza Shafieza Mohd Fuad.