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Peer mentoring success for postgraduate research students
Participants in this year's peer mentoring scheme pictured with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor James McElnay
The role peer mentoring plays in helping postgraduate research students integrate into the research environment has been highlighted at an annual awards ceremony.
The 2013 Peer Mentoring Awards and Information event gave students involved in the scheme the opportunity to showcase best practice in mentoring within their schools.
Now in its third year, the peer mentoring scheme has expanded to eight schools with 46 mentors, 8 co-ordinators and 59 mentees.
Annette Mac Artain-Kerr from the Postgraduate Centre, who initiated the scheme, said: “The nature of postgraduate research study lends itself particularly to peer mentoring because it is student-led. “Mentoring gives new research students the benefit of the mentor’s experience in the research environment and helps them to be self-reliant and activate their own resources.
“It also supports the employability agenda. Skills gained through the mentoring experience form a valuable addition to students’ CVs, especially given the increasing focus on pastoral care experience for academic roles. Participation in peer mentoring can contribute towards a Researcher Plus Award and/or an Institute of Leadership and Management qualification.”
The peer mentoring scheme involves input from academic staff, mentors (doctoral research students in 2nd or 3rd year) and from the Postgraduate Centre in a central, supporting role.
The emphasis is on recognising that each School is a distinct environment so that mentoring can evolve to meet the needs of the School. This has led to interesting developments, including mentors writing documents on time management, increased networking through seminars or social means, students taking the initiative and starting mentoring in their own research area, and the involvement of post-doctoral researchers in mentoring. The structure also includes elected mentor co-ordinators who have a role in liaising with Schools and the Postgraduate Centre as well as between mentors.
Annette said: “Mentoring has been able to develop and progress in the postgraduate research environment thanks to the considerable support of Schools, of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Postgraduates, Professor James McElnay and of course, because of the hard work of mentors and mentor co- ordinators.”
For further information on peer mentoring for postgraduate research students, please contact Annette MacArtain-Kerr at the Postgraduate Centre: a.mkerr@qub.ac.uk
