A decade of Peer-Assisted Learning: From academic first steps to community impact

From personalised learning support to strategic study planning, Student Academic Success (SAS) has shaped the confidence of thousands of students to reach their academic goals. As the Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) program marked its tenth year, let’s look back at how it has grown into impactful learning communities within and beyond RMIT.

A decade of peer learning

RMIT Vietnam’s peer-support journey began quietly with SLAMS (Student Learning Advisor Mentors), a volunteer initiative driven by passion and commitment, operating with a modest structure and training compared to what exists today. Yet even in those early days, the foundation was there, a shared belief that students could support one another and make a real difference.

In 2015, that foundation evolved. SAS introduced RMIT Vietnam’s first paid student learning roles, starting with 19 PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) Leaders. The program then grew into one of the university’s most impactful student-success initiatives, reshaping how students support one another in academics. Over the next decade, it evolved into today’s Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) ecosystem, built on strong training, consistent quality, and a deeply connected community.

At the PAL 10-Year Alumni Dinner, Senior Manager of Student Success Danny Green reflected on the program’s impact

Peer learning then became a recognised and professional part of the academic experience with impressive numbers:

Over 1,700 workshops and PASS sessions delivered
More than 28,000 peer tutoring sessions
Support across 770 courses in 48 programs
Over 67,000 student visits
Hundreds of tutors and PASS leaders trained

PAL community across generations, from current members to alumni.

Where the journey begins

For many RMIT students, when starting their first steps of uni-life, classes just shift entirely into English, and all the different academic formats feel unfamiliar. Independent learning suddenly becomes the norm. Coursework grows more complex, faster than expected. So, for these students, it is hard to know where to begin.

Huyen Nguyen, a Professional Communication student, knows exactly how it felt. In her early years at RMIT, she struggled with unfamiliar coursework and often visited SAS for support, especially during the challenging course ‘Introduction to PR’. What stayed with her was not just academic advice, but reassurance. Tutors helped her manage anxiety, clarify expectations, and learn how to ask better questions.

“The space felt safe,” she recalls. “You could admit what you didn’t know without feeling judged.”

As her confidence grew, so did her skills in research and problem-solving with the very first HD overall course. Watching the SAS team support students like herself, Huyen realised she wanted to offer that same sense of comfort and clarity to others. When she was invited to become a Workshop Leader, it felt less like a role change and more like a natural next step. Huyen returned to SAS not as a student seeking support, but as someone ready to give it back. Now, as one of only three Senior Workshop Leaders, Huyen plays a key role in mentoring new workshop leaders and supporting them in the development of their workshops.

Once in their place, Huyen now guides others through the challenges she once faced

People at the heart of SAS

While SAS is grounded in academic support, its true strength is found in the people who bring it to life. For Ngo Hung Phat, a Logistics PAL alumnus, the most enduring memories were not limited to tutoring sessions but grew from the relationships built beyond them. He recalls shared mid-trimester and end-of-term dinners, moments when the team gathered to eat, talk, and reflect together.

“Those moments gave me space to pause,” he shares. “To reconnect, to catch up, and to feel part of something bigger.”

It was through these connections that Phat believes he made his most meaningful contribution to SAS. By listening carefully, paying attention to emotions, and choosing his words thoughtfully, he helped foster an environment where students and teammates felt supported rather than judged.

“I’ve always believed that a healthy environment leads to better service,” he reflects. “When people feel comfortable and respected, they learn better, work better, and grow together.”

What truly defines the PAL community are the invaluable relationships formed among passionate, talented, and generous people.

That same sense of responsibility resonates with Nhi, now a Program Tutor within the PAL team. Stepping into the role brought a new kind of motivation, driven by a desire to earn the trust placed in her.

“Supporting others helped me trust myself,” she shares. “I used to doubt my abilities, but seeing my impact changed that.” The confidence Nhi gained through SAS extended beyond the program and encouraged her to pursue opportunities she once would not have dared to try.

Impact that lasts

For Nhi, the most meaningful moments often arrive unassumingly. It is the instant when a student suddenly says “Ah,” and everything begins to make sense. These moments often come after a simple explanation, a clearer structure, or a small tip that makes an overwhelming assignment feel manageable. In that instant, she knows she is not just giving an answer, but helping students understand and recognize their own capability.

Those moments of clarity define impact for her. They remind her why she joined SAS in the first place, not to do the work for students, but to build their confidence and help them face the next challenge on their own.

Reflecting on her experience, Nhi shares that what matters most to her is to inspire students to stay motivated throughout their learning journey. Rather than focusing only on grades, she encourages them to reflect on what they have learned, how they apply that knowledge, and how learning contributes to their personal growth beyond the classroom. Helping students see education as more than a number is, to her, where real impact begins.

More than a celebration of the past ten years, the milestone marked a promise for the decades ahead.

At the 10-year reunion, the room was filled with familiar faces and stories that stretched far beyond campus. Reflecting on the journey, Manager of Peer-Assisted Learning, Michael Valley shared his pride in seeing how far the PAL community has come.

“We now have former PALs working in global firms and across so many different industries,” he said. “It’s incredible to see the diversity of paths you’ve taken, and to know that PAL played a part in shaping the leaders, innovators, and professionals you’ve become.”

What truly defines the PAL community are the invaluable relationships formed among passionate, talented, and generous people.

It remains a space where student-oriented values come first, confidence is built through guidance, and learning is strengthened through collective support. Nhi said: “To the SAS community, past and present, thank you for shaping generations of learners, helpers, and leaders. And to the students just beginning their journey, keep learning, keep trying, and keep believing. We grow because of you, and we grow with you.”

PAL is built on supporting one another, sharing opportunities, and staying connected long after university life ends.

They spoke to a shared belief that learning is stronger when it is supported, that confidence grows when it is nurtured, and that communities built on care and guidance can last far beyond university life.

As SAS moves into its next chapter, the spirit of PAL continues forward, carried by those who once sought support, those who chose to give it, and those who will shape its future in the years to come.

Learn more about PAL Program

Story: Pham Thanh Thao, Professional Communication student. This article does not reflect the views of RMIT Vietnam as an institution.

17 December 2025

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