Mentoring

Mentoring is aimed at helping students to manage their own learning in order to maximize their potential, develop their skills to improve their performance and become the persons they want to be. Thus mentoring is a fundamental form of human development where the tutor invests time, energy and personal know how, assisting the growth and development of the students. Mentoring originated from the Greek word meaning “enduring”. It is defined as a sustained relationship between a youth and an adult. Through continued involvement the adult (usually older & always more experienced) offers support, guidance and assistance as the younger person goes through a difficult period, faces new challenges, or works to correct earlier problems. Mentoring is thus a development oriented initiative.

Mentee’s Role

• Be honest
• Regard everything as confidential
• Express ones wants clearly from the beginning
• Do not expect to get all problems to be fixed
• Be flexible in making appointments 

Responsibilities of the Mentees

• Utilize the possibilities of mentoring
• Be prepared to divulge all relevant information about particular issues.
• Regard all conversation with the mentor as confidential.
• Ensure that you make known what help you want from your mentor and seek clarifications whenever necessary.

• Be flexible in meeting arrangements if mentors cannot honor prior arrangements and changes have to be made.

• Ensure that the documentation of the mentoring sessions is done regularly, and periodic review is done with the mentor to assess the progress that is achieved.

Benefits for the Mentees

•       Enhances confidence and offers challenges to set higher goals, take risks and achieve at higher levels.
•       Individual recognition and encouragement.
•      Psychosocial support.
•       Advice on balancing range of academic and personal responsibilities.
•       Provides role modelling for professional life and facilitates the development of increased competencies and stronger interpersonal skills.
•       Access to a support system during critical stages of your academic and career development.
•       Exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences.
•       Direct access to powerful resources within the academic environment.
•       Provides a welcome point of stability during a time of change.
•       Provide guidance on areas the student is unfamiliar with, such as facing life in the campus, preparing for exams etc.
•       Provides opportunity to sound off ideas with mentors in a safe space.
•       Increases personal knowledge and awareness.
•       Develops an environment that supports constructive criticism
•       Gives wisdom, advice, help and encouragement
•       Provides an effective learning atmosphere
•       Stimulates thinking about potential future employment options.

 
Benefits to both mentors and mentees

• Mentoring helps both the mentee and the mentor recognize their abilities and limitations, thus highlighting areas for future development.
• It helps prompt thought about academic development and come to a realistic conclusion about their career potential.
• It can help increase the motivation of both the mentee and the mentor. The mentee gains a new direction or perspective while the mentor feels a sense of achievement when the mentee succeeds.