Academic Skills Training
Information about the programme
- Teaching hours per week: Each first year student takes three hours weekly
- Timetable: 1 x two hour class according to the needs of degree subject assessments, plus a one hour Academic Skills Training Plenary lecture every Wednesday
- Maximum class size: 25 students
- Academic Skills Training is designed to help students to boost course grades and prepare to study at a UK university.
- Academic Skills Training Skills Unit (AST) sessions develop the ability to paraphrase, reference, make effective presentations, follow academic conventions and express critical thoughts in academic style in written departmental assignments.
- Those students who have engaged frequently with AST sessions in previous years have tended to perform better in their assignments.
- New international students are automatically enrolled onto AST Unit lectures, which are live, interactive, and offered in person and online. AST lectures always run alongside and complement the departmental content during block teaching weeks.
"In Academic Skills Training we learn how to write academically, how to summarise, how to paraphrase, how to avoid plagiarism. So it's very helpful."
Dominika from Poland, 1st year BA Psychology
"Writing at an academic level is very difficult. AST helped me to create my own analysis, evaluation and synthesis."
Constantin from Albania, 1st year BA Criminology
There are TWO FORMATS every week:
|
1 |
Academic skills development session for your subject area |
Check your timetable |
2 hours weekly |
|
2 |
AST plenary/ presentation skills workshops |
P202 most Wednesdays @5pm |
1 hour weekly |
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Academic Skills Training Unit Timetable (plus EE unit) from February 2026
| Group | Period | Lecturer | Day | Time | Room |
|
AST Computing/ Engineering PG |
BLK2 |
Rafael Cloete |
Mondays |
10:00-12:00 |
online |
|
AST UG Business boost (Int Bus/ HR) |
SEM 2 |
Paul Owen |
Tuesdays |
12:00-13:30 |
H307a |
|
Enhanced English UG Business |
SEM 1 |
Styliani Giorgou |
Tuesdays |
12:00-13:00 |
G302 |
|
AST Business PG |
BLK2 |
Rafael Cloete |
Tuesdays |
12:00-14:00 |
P202 |
|
AST Luton Nursing |
SEM2 |
John Lapwood |
Tuesdays |
15:30-17:00 |
PM06 |
|
AST Bedford Nursing |
SEM2 |
Paul Owen |
Tuesdays |
15:30-17:00 |
D1.01 |
|
AST Social Sciences |
SEM2 |
Rafael Cloete |
Tuesdays |
15:00-17:00 |
A405 |
|
AST Bedford |
SEM2 |
Paul Owen |
Wednesdays |
12:00-14:00 |
online |
|
AST Business PG |
BLK2 |
Rafael Cloete |
Wednesdays |
12:00-14:00 |
P103 |
|
Enhanced English Unit |
SEM2 |
Paul Owen |
Wednesdays |
14:30-16:30 |
H305 |
|
AST Computing/ Engineering UG |
SEM2 |
Rafael Cloete |
Wednesdays |
14:30-16:30 |
G225 |
|
AST Business PG |
BLK2 |
Rafael Cloete |
Thursdays |
12:00-14:00 |
A107 |
|
AST Life Sciences |
SEM1 |
Paul Owen |
Thursdays |
14:00-16:00 |
G225 |
|
Enhanced English UG Business |
SEM 1 |
Desmond Skeel |
Thursdays |
14:15-16:15 |
H211 |
|
AST Law |
SEM2 |
Dr Nuzhat Jafari |
Fridays |
09:30-11:30 |
H307a |
|
AST UG Business boost (Marketing/ Bus Mgt)/ Creative |
SEM 2 |
Rafael Cloete |
Fridays |
10:00-12:00 |
C420 |
|
AST Business/ Computing & Engineering(catch up) |
BLK2 |
Paul Owen |
Fridays |
10am-12 noon |
online |
|
AST Public Health |
SEM2 |
Dr Nuzhat Jafari |
Fridays |
12:00-14:00 |
H307a |
|
AST UG Business boost (Bus Mgt) |
SEM2 |
Paul Owen |
Fridays |
12:30-14:30 |
H310 |
The AST Plenary Lecture Programme
As part of the Academic Skills Training programme, all international students can benefit from attending plenary lectures. You will be asked to take notes during the lectures by inspirational speakers, and then write an essay on the lecture theme. Valuable feedback will be provided from which you will be able to recognise your improvements during the course of the year.
Academic Skills Plenary Lecture benefits
- Targeted feedback from essays
- Listening skills
- Note-taking and writing practice
- Observing and interacting
- Raising cultural awareness
- Interesting and varied topics
Academic Skills Training: Plenary Lectures
Wednesdays @ 5pm (unless stated) Room P202, Luton
|
Date |
Topic |
Lecturer |
Room |
|
28th January |
Analyse this! |
Dr Desmond Skeel |
P202 |
| 4th February | Understanding and Managing Anxiety | Lacey Carroll |
P202 |
| 11th February | Multi-Faith Perspectives | Helen Burgess |
P202 |
| 18th February | AI: Ethical vs Unethical Practices | Dr Nuzhat Jafari |
P202 |
| 25th February |
Research Issues |
Dr Nuzhat Jafari |
P202 |
| 4th March | Celebrating International Culture | Katy Robertson-Hohmann |
P202 |
| 11th March | Motivation Strategies | Dr Leo Tzampazis |
P202 |
| 18th March | Identifying Truth in a Noisy World | Rafael Cloete |
P202 |
Find out more
Contact: [email protected]
Programme Coordinator: Paul Owen (room J305)
The Enhanced English unit will enable you to work on boosting your general English skills, such as:
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
- Listening
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
Enhanced English Timetable
From January 2026 onwards
| Location |
Day/Time |
Room | Tutor |
| Luton campus |
Wednesdays 14.30 - 16.30 |
Room J303 | Paul Owen |
|
Fridays |
Online | Paul Owen |
Academic Skills TrainingÌý
Presentation Skills Workshops (to run in autumn 2026)
Overcome your fear of public speaking and learn how to engage your audience
- Thursday, 5th November 2026, 5-7pm, room J303 (Luton)
- Thursday, 12th November 2026, 5-7pm, room J303 (Luton)
- Thursday, 19th November 2026, 5-7pm, room J303 (Luton)
- Thursday, 26th November 2026, 5-7pm, room J303 (Luton)
- Thursday, 3rd December 2026, 5-7pm, room J303 (Luton)
address
The Language Centre
ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Business School
Vicarage Street
ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Square
Luton, LU1 3JU
UK
telephone
Office hours GMT
- Mon – Thu
09:00 to 17:00 - Friday
09:00 to 16:30
T: +44 (0)300 3300 703