ERIC Number: EJ1447401
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1759-667X
'We're Kind of Outsiders': MA Student-Interns as Peer Mentors on a Pre-Sessional Internship Programme
James Lamont
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, n31 2024
This paper describes and analyses the role of peer mentoring in a pilot internship programme that took place in summer 2023. A team of five international MA student-interns participated in a summer pre-sessional programme, acting as communication partners and facilitators. The aim of the study was to investigate the benefits of being peer mentors for international postgraduate (PG) students, and it was conducted during a pre-sessional course. Feedback collected through a questionnaire, reflective diaries and a focus group revealed that the student-interns adopted the role of peer mentor to these new students, using their own experiences and knowledge to help the pre-sessional students prepare for their degrees. They also supported the students with non-academic aspects of studying and living abroad. The study concludes that introducing a mentoring aspect to the taught PG experience merits further research as a possible way to develop the mentors' academic knowledge, awareness and skills.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Mentors, Peer Relationship, Foreign Students, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Graduate Students, Internship Programs, Summer Programs, Supplementary Education, Student Attitudes, Pilot Projects
Association for Learning Development in Higher Education. 33 Lower Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 9NB, UK. e-mail: admin@aldinhe.ac.uk; Web site: https://jldhe.aldinhe.ac.uk/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A