Abstract
There has been a significant change in the landscape of higher education in the UK since the introduction of higher tuition fees in 2012, which has seen a shift in student values and concerns about their teaching and learning experience. As a result, mentoring, across all aspects of the student journey, has been advocated as having benefits to students, staff and the higher education institution and can be seen as an integral tool in helping to provide a positive student experience. This chapter proposes a “continuum of mentoring”, highlighting four different approaches which can support undergraduate study. The chapter also evaluates the development of a peer mentoring scheme in a UK higher education institution to highlight the benefits and limitations of the scheme.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Andrews, J., & Clark, R. (2011). Peer mentoring works! How peer mentoring enhances student success in higher education. Birmingham, UK: Aston University.
Arksey, H., & Knight, P. T. (1999). Interviewing for social scientists: An introductory resource with examples. London: Sage.
Arnold, K. E., & Pistilli, M. D. (2012). Course signals at Purdue: Using learning analytics to increase student success. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 2nd international conference on learning analytics and knowledge, 29th April–2nd May 2012, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Bergerson, A. A., & Petersen, K. K. (2009). CARES: Mentoring through university outreach. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 13(1), 45–66.
Bonin, E. (2013). The effect of peer mentoring on academic performance. InSight: Rivier Academic Journal, 9(2), 1–8.
Carragher, J., & McGaughey, J. (2016). The effectiveness of peer mentoring in promoting a positive transition to higher education for first-year undergraduate students: A mixed methods systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 5(1), 68.
Castleman, B. L., & Page, L. C. (2013). Summer nudging: Can personalized text messages and peer mentor outreach increase college going among low-income high school graduates? Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 115, 144–160.
Chester, A., Burton, L. J., Xenos, S., & Elgar, K. (2013). Peer mentoring: Supporting successful transition for first year undergraduate psychology students. Australian Journal of Psychology, 65(1), 30–37.
Clark, R., Andrews, J., & Gorman, P. (2013). Tackling transition: The value of peer mentoring. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning, 14(1), 57–75.
Collings, R., Swanson, V., & Watkins, R. (2014). The impact of peer mentoring on levels of student wellbeing, integration and retention: A controlled comparative evaluation of residential students in UK higher education. Higher Education, 68(6), 927–942.
Colvin, J. W., & Ashman, M. (2010). Roles, risks, and benefits of peer mentoring relationships in higher education. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 18(2), 121–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611261003678879
Crisp, G., & Cruz, I. (2009). Mentoring college students: A critical review of the literature between 1990 and 2007. Research in Higher Education, 50(6), 525–545.
Cropper, A. (2000). Mentoring as an inclusive device for the excluded: Black students’ experience of a mentoring scheme. Social Work Education, 19(6), 597–607.
Dedrick, R. F., & Watson, F. (2002). Mentoring needs of female, minority, and international graduate students: A content analysis of academic research guides and related print material. Mentoring and Tutoring, 10(3), 275–289.
Department for Education. (2016). Teaching excellence framework factsheet. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-excellence-framework-factsheet
Dorsey, L. E., & Baker, C. M. (2004). Mentoring undergraduate nursing students: Assessing the state of the science. Nurse Educator, 29(6), 260–265.
Etter, E. R., Burmeister, S. L., & Elder, R. J. (2001). Improving student performance and retention via supplemental instruction. Journal of Accounting Education, 4(18), 355–368.
Fox, A., & Stevenson, L. (2006). Exploring the effectiveness of peer mentoring of accounting and finance students in higher education. Accounting Education: An International Journal, 15(2), 189–202.
Higher Education Funding Council for England. (2015). Young participation in higher education: A-levels and similar qualifications. Retrieved from http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/year/2015/201503/
Higher Education Statistics Agency. (2018). Non-continuation: UK performance indicators 2017/18. Retrieved from https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/07-03-2019/non-continuation-tables
House of Commons Education Committee. (2018). Value for money in higher education: Seventh report of session 2017–2019. Retrieved from https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmeduc/343/343.pdf
Hubble, S., Bolton, P., & Bellis, A. (2018). Funding higher education (CDP-0044). Retrieved from https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2018-0044/CDP-2018-0044.pdf
Jessen, A., & Elander, J. (2009). Development and evaluation of an intervention to improve further education students’ understanding of higher education assessment criteria: Three studies. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 33(4), 359–380.
Kagan, C., & Diamond, J. (2019). Marketisation, teaching, learning and the student experience. In C. Kagan & J. Diamond (Eds.), University–community relations in the UK: Engaging universities (pp. 77–100). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
Kalpazidou Schmidt, E., & Faber, S. T. (2016). Benefits of peer mentoring to mentors, female mentees and higher education institutions. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 24(2), 137–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2016.1170560
Kovacic, Z. (2012). Predicting student success by mining enrolment data. Research in Higher Education Journal, 15(1), 1–20.
Lev, E. L., Kolassa, J., & Bakken, L. L. (2010). Faculty mentors’ and students’ perceptions of students’ research self-efficacy. Nurse Education Today, 30(2), 169–174.
Moore, J., Sanders, J., & Higham, L. (2013). Literature review of research into widening participation to higher education: Report to HEFCE and OFFA by AimHigher Research & Consultancy Network. Retrieved from https://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv:58145
Murdock, J. L., Stipanovic, N., & Lucas, K. (2013). Fostering connections between graduate students and strengthening professional identity through co-mentoring. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 41(5), 487–503. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2012.756972
Murphy, R., Scott-Clayton, J., & Wyness, G. (2017). The end of free college in England: Implications for quality, enrolments, and equity. Retrieved from https://www.researchcghe.org/perch/resources/publications/wp30.pdf
National Union of Students. (2015). A manifesto for partnership. Retrieved from National Union Students Connect https://www.nusconnect.org.uk/resources/a-manifesto-for-partnership
Nixon, E., Scullion, R., & Hearn, R. (2018). Her majesty the student: Marketised higher education and the narcissistic (dis)satisfactions of the student-consumer. Studies in Higher Education, 43(6), 927–943. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2016.1196353
Packham, G., & Miller, C. (2000). Peer-assisted student support: A new approach to learning. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 24(1), 55–65.
Panopoulos, A. P., & Sarri, K. (2013). E-mentoring: The adoption process and innovation challenge. International Journal of Information Management, 1(33), 217–226.
Peiser, G., Ambrose, J., Burke, B., & Davenport, J. (2018). The role of the mentor in professional knowledge development across four professions. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 7(1), 2–18.
Pitkethly, A., & Prosser, M. (2001). The first year experience project: A model for university-wide change. Higher Education Research & Development, 20(2), 185–198.
Rodger, S., & Tremblay, P. F. (2003). The effects of a peer mentoring program on academic success among first year university students. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 33(3), 1–17.
Sands, R. G., Parson, L. A., & Duane, J. (1991). Faculty mentoring faculty in a public university. The Journal of Higher Education, 62(2), 174–193.
Siemens, G., Gasevic, D., Haythornthwaite, C., Dawson, S., Shum, S. B., Ferguson, R., et al. (2011). Open learning analytics: An integrated & modularized platform (Doctoral dissertation). Open University Press. Retrieved from https://solaresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/OpenLearningAnalytics.pdf
Snowden, M., & Hardy, T. (2012). Peer mentorship and positive effects on student mentor and mentee retention and academic success. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning, 14, 76–92.
Soilemetzidis, I., & Dale, C. (2013). Student retention in UK higher education: Exploring the link between entry grades and attrition trends. European Academic Research, 8(1), 2326–2349.
Spence, S., & Hyams-Ssekasi, D. (2015). Developing business students’ employability skills through working in partnership with a local business to deliver an undergraduate mentoring programme. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 5(3), 299–314.
Temple, P., Callender, C., Grove, L., & Kersh, N. (2014). Managing the student experience in a shifting higher education landscape. The Higher Education Academy, 1(1), 1–25.
Terrion, J. L., & Leonard, D. (2007). A taxonomy of the characteristics of student peer mentors in higher education: Findings from a literature review. Mentoring & Tutoring, 15(2), 149–164.
Thomas, L. (2012). Building student engagement and belonging in Higher Education at a time of change. Retrieved from https://www.phf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/What-Works-report-final.pdf
Thomas, L. (2013). What works? Facilitating an effective transition into higher education. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning, 14(1), 4–24.
Thomas, L., Hill, M., O’Mahony, J., & Yorke, M. (2017). Supporting student success: Strategies for institutional change (What works? Student retention & success programme: Final report). Retrieved from https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/supporting-student-success-strategies-institutional-change
Topping, K. J. (2005). Trends in peer learning. Educational Psychology, 25(6), 631–645. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410500345172
Van Barneveld, A., Arnold, K. E., & Campbell, J. P. (2012). Analytics in higher education: Establishing a common language. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative, 1(1), l–ll.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Williams, J. (2012). Consuming higher education: Why learning can’t be bought. London: A&C Black.
Yomtov, D., Plunkett, S. W., Efrat, R., & Marin, A. G. (2017). Can peer mentors improve first-year experiences of university students? Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 19(1), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1521025115611398
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ball, E., Hennessy, C. (2020). De-mystifying the Concept of Peer Mentoring in Higher Education: Establishing Models for Learning. In: Woolhouse, C., Nicholson, L.J. (eds) Mentoring in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46890-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46890-3_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-46889-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-46890-3
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)