On January 8, 10, 15, and 17, 2025, during 3rd and 4th periods (13:00–16:10), SSP OIC hosted an “Intensive Study Session.” This event was designed for undergraduate students attending OIC who were struggling with academic challenges or motivation, providing them with an opportunity to study alongside peer supporters and work toward resolving their issues. A total of 17 students participated in the session.
▷A whiteboard sign displaying event details was placed to attract students’ interest and encourage casual participation!
The “Intensive Study Session” was planned in response to a common issue: many students face academic difficulties but have no opportunity to seek advice before the exam period. To address this, the event created a space where participants could exchange study-related information with peer supporters. Students could receive guidance on statistics, English, general education subjects, and report writing, all in an open and flexible face-to-face setting.
Within the quiet and focused study environment, students engaged in their own learning while collaborating with peers when needed. Many participants stayed for over 30 minutes, studying in a relaxed atmosphere. To further enhance accessibility, the organizers actively shared real-time updates on Instagram Stories, including the study session's atmosphere and seat availability.
▷ Participants engaged in studying alongside peer supporters.
A post-event survey revealed that many students felt their doubts had been resolved. Specific feedback included: “I wasn’t sure about the formatting for my thesis, but after checking it together with a peer supporter, my concerns were alleviated” and “I learned my research question in more depth”.
This feedback highlighted how the study session helped students overcome academic anxieties. The organizing team was deeply encouraged to witness participants taking the initiative to clarify their academic concerns and deepen their learning. Seeing students' uncertainties dissipate with support from their peers reinforced the importance of these study sessions. Additionally, this experience emphasized the significance of learning environments and proper academic support in fostering motivation.
I believe this project was able to enhance its recognition and attract a certain level of interest among students through an impactful project name and a location that was easily accessible to them. Although the number of participants was not large, I felt that awareness and interest in SSP and the project increased through student feedback and participation surveys. Moving forward, we aim to hold the event regularly, with the goal of establishing SSP and its projects as an integral part of student life, providing more students with opportunities for academic support and motivation enhancement. Through regular events, we will work to better understand students’ academic and daily life concerns, reflect them in our initiatives, and provide more effective support. Additionally, based on SSP’s core value of creating an environment where students take the initiative in designing their learning and activities for personal growth, we will enhance workshops for organizing course content and consultation sessions intended to assist studying for students.. By doing so, we hope to strengthen the support system that enables students to deepen their learning independently.
The next study session is yet to be scheduled, but updates will be posted on SNS! For the latest information, follow SSP OIC’s official Instagram account: 【@ritsumeikan_ssp_oic】 】!
(OIC Tada)