Mentoring reality: from concepts and theory to real expertise and the mentor’s point of view
International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education
ISSN: 2046-6854
Article publication date: 21 October 2020
Issue publication date: 21 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the reality of mentoring in higher education from the mentor’s point of view. The goal is to elaborate best practice of mentoring on issues such as advanced training, professionalization, experience exchange, networking, de facto tasks and levels of interaction with mentees.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines the gap between theoretical mentoring methods, for example, with regard to timely planning and the reality of being a mentor. Data were generated by qualitative interviews of up to 45 min with mentors with several years of experience. The qualitative findings will help interested people to get a feel for what it means to be a mentor.
Findings
The findings showed that each mentor found his or her individual way of mentoring and that each was eager to personally improve. The paper shows influencing factors beyond project planning, such as emotional involvement, dealing with student denial and the time it actually takes to be a good mentor beyond office hours.
Research limitations/implications
As matriculation numbers must not be documented due to German data protection law, the de facto effectiveness of mentoring was close to impossible to measure.
Social implications
Text.
Originality/value
This work is original because the Aachener Mentoring Modell entails 35 professional mentors working in all but one faculty of RWTH Aachen University; it is an entire schooling concept, with technical documentation especially implemented for this project.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank the mentors of the Aachener Mentoring Modell, not only for their amazing work, but also for their willingness to openly share their experiences, opinions and ideas.
Citation
Zentgraf, L.L. (2020), "Mentoring reality: from concepts and theory to real expertise and the mentor’s point of view", International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 427-443. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-12-2017-0077
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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