Peer Mentoring offering transitional support to Level 1 students Learning Development Service A mentor is a more experienced person who forms a relationship with a less experienced person in order to provide that person with advice support and encouragement ID: 771552
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Peer Mentoring: offering transitional support to Level 1 students Learning Development Service
A mentor is a more experienced person who forms a relationship with a less experienced person in order to provide that person with advice, support and encouragement . Megginson and Clutterbuck , 1995.
Undergraduate mentoring in QUBSchool of English 2008/2009Four Peer M entors
2011/2012, 97 QUB Mentors45 male, 52 female Accounting , Anthropology, Archaeology, Computer Science, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, Sociology
Wider researchPeer Mentoring Works!How Peer Mentoring Enhances Student Success in Higher Education Jane Andrews and Robin Clark Published by Aston University, Birmingham, November 2011 ‘What Works? Student Retention and Success Programme’ Funded by HEFCE and Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mentoring schemesAston UniversityBangor University London Metropolitan Liverpool Hope university Sheffield University Oslo and Arkeshus University College
Findings75% concerned about making friends and settling in 70% confident that they had the ability to succeed academically 75% agreed that peer mentoring helped them adapt to university life 75% agreed that peer mentoring helped them make the most of academic opportunities and support services
Peer mentoring is a mechanism for addressing the issue of retention as it provides the “means by which students can make friends, acclimatise to university life, and come to terms with their new student identity”.
Recommendations“Transition + - the ideal mentoring programme” offers transitional support that evolves into academic and social support
Essential Elements of Transition +Time to develop the scheme Start small Clear aims Student ‘ownership’Embedded within the School (assigned academic)Tailored Careful selection of mentors Lead mentor Comprehensive training Assigned space within the School Promotion Opt-out – otherwise seen by students as a deficit model of support Formal recognition for mentors (Degree Plus)
Within the UK Higher Education context, peer mentoring relates to the concept of reciprocal peer support and learning whereby a peer mentor helps to enhance and promote the overall university experience of either an individual student, or a group of fellow students. Peer mentors are generally slightly more advanced in their studies than peer mentees. By using their own experiences and insights , peer mentors help newer students settle into, and succeed at, university; building relationships that often last throughout the first year – and in many cases beyond. Andrews and Clark, 2011
Peer mentoring offers an approach whereby students help students discover the new world of university life through the formation of safe and supportive peer relationships Andrews and Clark, 2011
Ryan Glass, Lead Mentor, School of Mathematics
School of MathematicsMy experience as a QUB Level 1 student of MathematicsDaunted by the size of my year group Lonely Felt like a job Not what I expected Problems weren’t resolved until Level 2Passion for Mathematics kept me there
School of MathematicsHow the mentoring scheme developedGillian Mark LDS Academic support Finance Recruitment Promotion Training
Mathematics Mentors 2010/11
Mentoring in School of MathematicsEncouraged by LDS to develop our own modelOpt in / opt out Pairing up Academic aspects Social aspects Weekly mentoring meetings
Mentoring in School of MathematicsAcademic aspectsWeekly homework sessions Revision sessions
Mentoring in School of MathematicsSocial aspectsWeekly social hours Group social nights Monthly social events
Mentoring in School of MathematicsContinued developmentRecruitment Promotion Homework sessions
Mentoring in School of Mathematics“Good chance to settle in quicker and make that transition between school life and university easier. First opportunity to make friends in your class. It’s nice having someone there who can give you advice on how to answer mathematically and gives you that reassurance to keep you hanging in there when it all seems a bit too much. And the events were definitely good banter!”
Mentoring in School of Mathematics“Couldn’t have survived first year without it. Great way to make friends. First year is a big shock and having older students help/guide you was just what you needed to get through and have fun!” “I thought it was brilliant. Eased the transition from school to university a lot! I probably wouldn’t have lasted the year without it!”
Mentoring in School of MathematicsTrainingTeacherConfidence in speaking Time management Responsibilities Relationships with lecturers Friendships
Saoirse McGrath, Peer Mentoring Advisor, Learning Development Service
Benefits for the mentorFormer QUB mentor- Why I became a mentor - Background
Benefits for the mentorPersonal DevelopmentPassion Meeting new people Growing in confidence Rewarding
Benefits for the mentorEmployment skills Organisational Opportunities Continued study Public speaking Communication Facilitation Attendance at conferences Training
The role of the Learning Development ServiceProvides advice and guidance for Schools in the development and implementation of mentoring schemes Attends information sessions in Schools Provides mentor training Meets regularly with lead mentors Supports individual mentors on a one-to-one basis Ensures mentors meet the requirements for Degree Plus
Professor John Thompson