Peer mentoring on a practice based programme with a focus on supporting students with placements.
Business Accounting and Finance BA Honours students. Ellen Arkless, Programme Secretary Tony Chapman-Wilson, University Peer Mentoring Coordinator
We set up mentoring a good few years ago for our students. There was then a successful project ensuring that mentoring was implemented across the University with support and guidance provided centrally. This was really helpful to us and we used the guidance to adapt our scheme so we were working in line with the principles and standards that were developed. One thing that is more unique to our scheme is the strong focus on mentors helping students before and during placements. For this reason we only use students who are in stage three of the programme as they have experience of placements so can give great insight to the new students. The mentors get in touch with students before they arrive and during induction, this is similar to other mentors across the University. They then get in touch when the students are starting to choose their placements to help them make the best decisions. They check in with students during their placements and then again when they finish so that they can share their experiences and try and alleviate any concerns or nerves that the stage 1 students might have.
Initially we recognised the many benefits of peer support for students and mentoring is such an effective way of providing this. We started to utilise more of the central support, such as the training and resources, once this started to grow as we recognised the positive impact this would have for our mentors. We fine-tuned our scheme to have a few more specific times of contact for mentors as we realised that placement selection and support was a key time for our students. Having the support of a mentor complimented the other help and support available to students. There are also a lot of benefits to our mentors. The skills mentoring develops are transferrable and our students often see the benefits quickly as during one of their later placements they may be involved in coaching staff; something a mentoring role prepares them well for.
It’s been great to see how much the mentoring scheme has developed over the years. We get lots of great student feedback, in 16/17 we saw a big increase in our mentors being nominated for peer mentor of the year with one mentor being shortlisted for the HaSS award. In addition this year is the fastest we have ever recruited the number of mentors we need. I think that shows how embedded it has become in our programme. We are looking forward to seeing it continue to develop over the coming years. What our mentors say: “I have enjoyed helping and being a part of my mentees development through all aspects of uni life and the course. The scheme has also helped me in learning how to create good relationships with different types of people. You are not only helping your mentees develop but they are also helping you .”
Peer mentoring on Business, Accounting and Finance
Skills and Employability, Student Engagement, Student Induction
Undergraduate (all Stages)
Newcastle University Business School
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Up to 10 students in a group
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