Good practice in undergraduate peer support

The Maths, Stats & OR Network (MSOR Network), in conjunction with sigma - centre for excellence in mathematics & statistics support, has, over the years, developed a programme of activities associated with supporting specialist mathematics and statistics students. Research has shown that peer support and peer-assisted learning can motivate and encourage students to engage with mathematics.The Network has commissioned the authors of this paper to produce a Good Practice Guide to identify and disseminate current good practice in the area of undergraduate peer support, where both undergraduates and postgraduates support other students – in the same or different year groups – in formal or informal situations.This paper outlines the project aims and objectives which are: a) to collect data from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) throughout the UK, b) to establish the nature of current peer support mechanisms (both informal and formal) and c) to identify good practice in peer assisted-learning, which may be provided either face-to-face or by e-support.