#17 Rethinking Academic Advising for Student Success l Unfiltered by EmpowerED

Academic advising is often seen as a support function—but what if it’s actually central to student success, belonging, and institutional impact? In this episode of Unfiltered by EmpowerED, we speak with Wayne Ramwell, Senior Tutor and Academic Advisor at the University of Manchester, about the evolving role of advising in higher education. Wayne shares his journey into advising, insights into the professional advising model, and how institutions can better support the “whole student”—academically, personally, and professionally. We also explore challenges such as student engagement, trust-building, wellbeing, and the growing need for compassionate, student-centred approaches.   Podcast Chapters 01:03 – Introduction & Wayne’s Journey into Academic Advising 05:27 – What Academic Advising Really Means 11:43 – Asking the Right Questions vs Having the Right Answers 16:38 – Building Trust & Supporting Student Wellbeing 20:58 – Bridging Academic Success and Personal Development 26:00 – Misconceptions About Advising & Student Engagement 31:15 – The Professional Advising Model Explained 39:17 – Institutional Strategy, Resources & Impact of Advising 44:05 – Where Universities Should Start with Improving Advising 48:21 – The Future of Academic Advising   Resources Mentioned UK Advising and Tutoring Association (UKAT)   Wayne’s Contact Details Email: empoweredwebinars.com X (Twitter): @MpowerEDWebinar LinkedIn: EmpowerED Webinars Email: [email protected]