‘sometimes it’s easier to learn from someone on the same level as you’ promoting student...
TRANSCRIPT
‘Sometimes it’s easier to learn from someone on the same level as you’
Promoting Student MentoringAnne ChirnsideActing Head of Wider Access
Napier University
o 11500 undergraduates
o 71% studying full time
o 70% undergraduates are 21+
o 55% female
o Around 30% of 3rd years are direct entrants
o Around 60% of undergraduates are first
generation
Napier University
‘….starting university is mind blowing and I suppose if you have a strong outgoing personality it is easier to settle in and make friends, you know people you can sit with at breaks and talk about classes and stuff….’
3rd Year Social Science Student
Transitions
Increasing Diversity
Social Capital
AlienationIsolation
Cultural Capital
Lack of confidence
Inclusive
Targeted
Centralised
Localised
Paid
Unpaid
Structured
Unstructured
Buddy
Peer tutor
Resourced
Different models
‘My mentor is such a lovely person and has made me feel welcome @ Napier. She has introduced me to researching journals on the database, given me ideas on how to study and general advice on how Napier works. Thanks.’
Inclusive
Academic
Semi-structured
Funded by WAP
Centralised
Unpaid
The Napier Model
Am
bass
ador
s
o Student Identity o Belonging o Empowerment
GuidesMentors
Facilitators
Focu
s gr
oups
Student Reps
Students working with Napier
What’s the process?
Promote Mentors
Train
Promote Mentees
MatchFollow along
Conclude
Evaluate
Promote
o Email
o Flyers
o Specific groups
o Staff
o Events
Training the Mentors
Aims Components Method
Evaluation
Support
Encourage
Share
Refer
Qualities
Role
Skills
Boundaries
Interactive
Matching Mentees with Mentors
o Each mentee is meto Guidelines and expectationso Criteria for matching
o Same subject areao Needs expressedo Special requestso Personal characteristics
o One to one or small groups
Analysing the data
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
18 - 20 21 - 24 25 - 29 30 +
mentors
mentees
all UG students
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200
Total matches
Mentees
Mentors
Total engaged
2006-07
2005-06
2004-05
Student Characteristics
male 34%
female 66%
male 25%
female 75%home 83%
overseas 9%
eu 8 %
home 62%
overseas 26%
eu 12%
Mentor male and female
Mentee male and female
Mentor fee status
Mentee fee status
Level of Study
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 PG
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 d/e 2 d/e 3 d/e 4 PG
Mentor
Mentee
Are we reaching all parts?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Customised programmes
Tourism, hospitality & festival event management
Social Sciences
Nursing, midw ifery & complementary therapies
Life sciences
Accounting, f inancial services & law
Engineering
Computing & Information systems
Communication & creative industries
Business & management
Built environment & civil engineering
Mentors
Mentees
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
one to three
four to ten
almost every week
How often do they meet?
Frequency of meeting Mentee 05/06
‘It was more like a comfort blanket knowing that if I did need help she was always there for me.’
Impact - What do the stats tell us?
05/06 Year 1
80
68
0 20 40 60 80 100
Progression ratementees
Progression rate allstudents
03/04 Year 1
89
68
0 20 40 60 80 100
Progression ratementees
Progression rate allstudents
Impact - What do the students tell us?
‘I was about to quit Napier but my mentor made it easier to stay.’
‘I am not sure how I would have managed without the support.’
‘The facility of having someone with more experience helped me get through the sticky patches.’
‘Having a mentor has encouraged me to keep going when one feels there is too much to do all at once.’
‘Without my mentor’s reassurance I may have given up my studies.’
‘If it wasn’t for my mentor I would have considered leaving as I would have continued to feel I didn’t fit in.’
‘It’s an absolutely fantastic support to me and gives me confidence to keep going!!!!!’
What has being a mentor done for you?
74 questionnaires analysed
Key themes:
Feel good factor 40Transferable skills improved 24Own academic skills boosted 12Confidence increased 12Confirmation of own expertise 11CV enhancement 6
‘Given me a warm
fuzzy glow
inside.’
‘I feel I h
ave been
able to deepen
my knowledge of
the subject.’
‘Showed me I
actually know
how to do the
student stuff.’
‘Hopefully I can
transfer the
experience to the
workplace after
graduating.’
86 questionnaires analysed
Key themes:Confidence, reassurance, support 23Learnt about university life 21Learning from another student 18Improved academic performance 5Advice on study skills- Coursework 33- Academic writing 21- Exams 12- Using resources 9- Referencing 6
‘It’s the
best way
to learn a
lot about
uni life.’
91% of mentees said they
would recommend the
programme.
What have you gained from having a mentor?
And the negatives?
A few mentees said…o Waited too long for
contacto Didn’t meet enough
‘My mentor wasn’t really involved and had little time for me.’
A few mentors said…o Mentee expectations
were unrealistico Difficulty arranging
meetings.
‘Serious difficulties meeting because of timetable clashes, part-time jobs and family’
Further Development
• Resourcing
• Evidencing
Presenting the Programme
• Reaching those who could benefit
• Appealing to young, especially males
• Removing stigma
Programme Related
• Supply and demand
• Dysfunctional matches
• Unmatched mentors
• Unsuitable candidates
What are the challenges?
What are the next steps?
Next Steps
Satellites, eg. postgraduates, L2
Reach young students
Online mentoring
Mentors in LIS
Volunteering centre
Caroline Moffat for her enthusiasm, hard work and commitment to the Student Mentoring Programme, and help with this presentation.
Justen Ross for his work on this PowerPoint presentation.
The student mentors and mentees who have participated in Napier’s Mentoring Programme and whose input has been so valuable.
Acknowledgements