LEAP activity: “Writing Clinic by Learning Ambassadors” supports postgraduate students in enhancing academic writing

The “Writing Clinic by Learning Ambassadors”, organised by the LEAP Programme under the School of Graduate Studies, returned for Term 2 to continue supporting postgraduate students in strengthening their academic writing skills. Held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from January to April, the consultation sessions offered a flexible and supportive platform for students seeking guidance on assignments, research papers, and other academic writing tasks.

Led by dedicated Learning Ambassadors, who are current Lingnan University doctoral students, the Writing Clinic provided personalised feedback tailored to individual learning needs. Students could attend one-on-one consultations or join small groups of two to three, making the sessions suitable for both independent writing support and collaborative group assignment discussions. From refining structure and argument flow to improving academic tone and clarity, participants benefited from practical advice and expert guidance that enhanced the quality of their written work.

Among the many students who benefited from the scheme was Pi Lijia, who enrolled in the Master of Arts in Arts and Cultural Heritage Management (Heritage Tourism and Management) programme. She expressed her sincere appreciation for the Writing Clinic, noting, “The academic writing consultation exceeded my expectations. The Learning Ambassadors were incredibly responsible and provided precise, constructive guidance on my English essays, which significantly improved the quality of my academic writing.”

The programme also proved immensely rewarding for the mentors involved. Frank Guang Yinkuan from the Doctor of Policy Studies programme had served as a Learning Ambassador for the second consecutive year, supporting postgraduate students with thesis development, writing conventions, and grammar. Despite his own academic commitments, he found the role mutually rewarding. “As a policy studies student myself, I have the opportunity to meet students from different disciplines and backgrounds. Helping them while also learning about other areas of expertise through their research is truly interesting. These exchanges are both rare and valuable.”

After completing her first year of service as a Learning Ambassador, Wang Heru, a PhD candidate majoring in English, reflected on the profound sense of fulfillment she gained from supporting her peers. “As a Learning Ambassador, I have come to realise that academic writing is a transferable skill that transcends disciplinary boundaries. What inspires me most is seeing students return with essays that are more rigorously structured and logically developed. Through mentoring students from diverse backgrounds, we have also grown together – and that growth is reflected in every clearly articulated piece of academic writing!”

LEAP sincerely thanks both the Learning Ambassadors and postgraduate students for their active participation and will continue to provide diverse support to foster students’ academic and personal development.