Summary


A mentoring scheme within a faculty, department or module is an excellent way of promoting integration and can help facilitate transition periods for students starting university or advancing to a higher year. This scheme can be either compulsory or optional. It will tend to span across years so should primarily be an optional pedagogy. However, providing the platform for (especially 1st year) students to access the experience and knowledge of older student in their department is a highly valuable initiative. This is easily done through the course society but can also be achieved via an email or online sign-up medium.


Theory


Transition periods have been identified as a large source of stress for young people, especially those starting their higher educational careers. Having the counsel of an individual who has gone through the same set of challenges and experiences can help ease these transition periods. The overall result can have a hugely beneficial impact on student wellbeing and stress, while promoting a more integrated community at university.


Measurable Benefits


  1. Reduce the stress and intimidation of transition periods.
  2. Older students can learn interpersonal skills such as conveying their knowledge and experiences to younger students.
  3. Promotes integration between different years at university.

How it Works


  1. Provide a sign-up forum for existing students interested in being mentors.
  2. Distribute the information to incoming 1st years or exchange students that this initiative exists.
  3. Match suitable students (perhaps based on their module choices) to incoming 1st years.

Student Feedback

This quote was raised by a student about their experience with the curriculum at Warwick without prior knowledge of this pedagogy. However, it highlights this pedagogies pertinency in reshaping the learning environment.

  • "Instead of a personal tutor, it might be better having a 2nd/3rd year student that has been through similar conditions or hardships and may be more sensitive to the issues you’re experiencing as a student."