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Jonathan Squirrell on supporting Foundation Year students
This week Mike and Catherine are joined by Jonathan Squirrell, Academic writing support tutor within the Foundation Year Team, who reflects on his work with Foundation Year students, bridging gaps and breaking barriers.
Jonathan Squirrell signed a short-term contract with the University of Hull in 2010 and since he is still here it can only be assumed he has been making himself useful. Since 2018 he has been part of the Foundation Year team, where he now specialises in academic writing skills.
As well as coordinating and teaching on core Foundation Year modules, Jonathan provides one-to-one supervision and support to students from across all faculties. The online resources he has created to develop writing skills led to a nomination for a Student Choice award in 2025. Jonathan is a Fellow of AdvanceHE and has presented at national and international conferences on student engagement and experience, curriculum design, feedback, and academic writing resources. He has been part of institutional working groups and two Student Staff Partnership projects.
Alongside his work on academic writing, Jonathan has an MA in Creative Writing and has taught on the degree programme. He published his first novel in 2024.
“Success is a personal thing. We get students you can see growing, and you know they’re going to get a first, they’ll be doing a PhD, and I’ll be calling them ‘boss’ in 10 years’ time! But then there are the other ones who didn’t think they could do it, they maybe took a punt, at clearing, ‘shall I put an application in?’ You see them at open days, they’re really unsure, they could be in the Library looking around… ‘Is this for me? … Can I do this?’ and of course they are the really satisfying ones… when they begin to get a bit of feedback, ‘Yeah, actually, I can do this’… That’s the full power of education, isn’t it? Ultimately, you’re hoping to change lives!”
Thank you for taking time to listen to our podcast. We hope you enjoy it.
If you have not subscribed yet, please do and share it with anyone you think might enjoy.
Cup of TEA artwork created by Layla Jabbari
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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By Teaching Excellence Academy, University of HullThis week Mike and Catherine are joined by Jonathan Squirrell, Academic writing support tutor within the Foundation Year Team, who reflects on his work with Foundation Year students, bridging gaps and breaking barriers.
Jonathan Squirrell signed a short-term contract with the University of Hull in 2010 and since he is still here it can only be assumed he has been making himself useful. Since 2018 he has been part of the Foundation Year team, where he now specialises in academic writing skills.
As well as coordinating and teaching on core Foundation Year modules, Jonathan provides one-to-one supervision and support to students from across all faculties. The online resources he has created to develop writing skills led to a nomination for a Student Choice award in 2025. Jonathan is a Fellow of AdvanceHE and has presented at national and international conferences on student engagement and experience, curriculum design, feedback, and academic writing resources. He has been part of institutional working groups and two Student Staff Partnership projects.
Alongside his work on academic writing, Jonathan has an MA in Creative Writing and has taught on the degree programme. He published his first novel in 2024.
“Success is a personal thing. We get students you can see growing, and you know they’re going to get a first, they’ll be doing a PhD, and I’ll be calling them ‘boss’ in 10 years’ time! But then there are the other ones who didn’t think they could do it, they maybe took a punt, at clearing, ‘shall I put an application in?’ You see them at open days, they’re really unsure, they could be in the Library looking around… ‘Is this for me? … Can I do this?’ and of course they are the really satisfying ones… when they begin to get a bit of feedback, ‘Yeah, actually, I can do this’… That’s the full power of education, isn’t it? Ultimately, you’re hoping to change lives!”
Thank you for taking time to listen to our podcast. We hope you enjoy it.
If you have not subscribed yet, please do and share it with anyone you think might enjoy.
Cup of TEA artwork created by Layla Jabbari
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.