Postgraduate Students’ Views on Mentoring in the Educational and Academic Context

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

Mentoring has been a highly discussed issue in the education literature lately. This study explored Greek postgraduate students’ views regarding mentoring in Greek primary and higher education. Unlike previous research, in the present study we did not use predefined themes or definitions to explore mentoring. Instead, the purpose was to allow participants’ definitions and opinions about the issue to emerge. Therefore, the spontaneous texts written by the participants during an hour were used as a research tool, while the 38 written texts accumulated were analyzed by the qualitative content analysis method. Findings indicated that the prevailing themes of mentoring in the literature, such as mentoring functions, outcomes, and purposes, were referred by the participants. Despite the similarities found for mentoring in both contexts studied, some differences also emerged, concerning the type of the mentoring relationship preferred and the purposes of mentoring in each context. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications.

  1. Agholor, D., Lleo de Nalda, A., & Bárcena, N. S. (2017). Mentoring future engineers in higher education: A descriptive study using a developed conceptual framework. Production, 27(spe), e20162207. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-6513.220716  |   Google Scholar
  2. Anderson, E. M., & Shannon, A. L. (1988). Toward a conceptualization of mentoring. Journal of Teacher Education, 39(1), 38-42. doi:10.1177/002248718803900109  |   Google Scholar
  3. Ambrosetti, A., & Dekkers, J. (2010). The interconnectedness of the roles of mentors and mentees in pre-service teacher education mentoring relationships. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 35(6), 42-55. DOI: 10.14221/ajte.2010v35n6.3  |   Google Scholar
  4. Barrera, A., Braley, R. T., & Slate, J. R. (2010). Beginning teacher success: An investigation into the feedback from mentors of formal mentoring programs. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 18(1), 61-74. DOI: 10.1080/13611260903448383  |   Google Scholar
  5. Bean, N. M., Lucas, L., & Hyers, L. L. (2014). Mentoring in higher education should be the norm to assure success: Lessons learned from the Faculty Mentoring Program, West Chester University, 2008-2011. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 22(1), 56-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2014.882606  |   Google Scholar
  6. Bozeman, B., & Feeney, M. K. (2007). Toward a useful theory of mentoring: A conceptual analysis and critique. Administration & Society, 39(6), 719-739.  |   Google Scholar
  7. Brewerton, A. (2002). Mentoring. LIBER Quarterly: The Journal of the Association of European Research Libraries, 12(4), 361–380. DOI: 10.18352/lq.7703  |   Google Scholar
  8. Cain, T. (2009). Mentoring trainee teachers: How can mentors use research?. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 17(1), 53-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611260802233498  |   Google Scholar
  9. Campbell, T. A., & Campbell, D. E. (1997). Faculty-student mentor program: Effects on academic performance and retention. Research in Higher Education, 38(6), 727-742.  |   Google Scholar
  10. Caspersen, J. (2013). Professionalism among novice teachers. How they think, act, cope and perceive knowledge (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Available at: www.researchgate.net  |   Google Scholar
  11. Chatzidimou, D. Ch. (2015). Eisagogi stin Paidagogiki: Symvoli sti diachysi tis paidagogikis skepsis (4i ekd.). Thessaloniki: Afoi Kyriakidi ekdoseis a.e. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  12. Clayton, J. K., Sanzo, K. L., & Myran, S. (2013). Understanding mentoring in leadership development: Perspectives of district administrators and aspiring leaders. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 8(1), 77-96. doi: 10.1177/1942775112464959  |   Google Scholar
  13. 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. doi: 10.1007/s10734-014-9752-y  |   Google Scholar
  14. Council of Europe. (2020). Council conclusions on European teachers and trainers for the future. Official Journal of the European Union, 11-19. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=uriserv:OJ. C_.2020.193.01.0011. 01.ENG  |   Google Scholar
  15. Ehrich, L., Tennent, L., & Hansford, B. (2002). A review of mentoring in education: Some lessons for nursing. Contemporary Nurse, 12(3), 253-264. doi: 10.5172/conu.12.3.253  |   Google Scholar
  16. European Commission. (2010). Developing coherent and system-wide induction programmes for beginning teachers: A handbook for policymakers. European Commission Staff Working Document SEC, 538 final. Brussels: European Commission. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu  |   Google Scholar
  17. Fletcher, S. H., & Barrett, A. (2004). Developing effective beginning teachers through mentor‐based induction. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 12(3), 321-333. doi: 10.1080/030910042000275936  |   Google Scholar
  18. Fullick, J. M., Smith-Jentsch, K. A., Yarbrough, C. S., & Scielzo, S. A. (2012). Mentor and protégé goal orientations as predictors of newcomer stress. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 12(1), 59-73. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ975113.pdf  |   Google Scholar
  19. Garza, R. (2012). Initiating opportunities to enhance preservice teachers’ pedagogical knowledge: Perceptions about mentoring at-risk adolescents. Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research, 8, 26-35.  |   Google Scholar
  20. Haggard, D. L., Dougherty, T. W., Turban, D. B., & Wilbanks, J. E. (2011). Who is a mentor?: A review of evolving definitions and implications for research. Journal of Management, 37(1), 280-304. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310386227  |   Google Scholar
  21. Hobson, A. J., Ashby, P., Malderez, A., & Tomlinson, P. D. (2009). Mentoring beginning teachers: What we know and what we don’t. Teaching and Teacher Education, 25, 207-216. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2008.09.001  |   Google Scholar
  22. Husband, P. A., & Jacobs, P. A. (2009). Peer mentoring in higher education: A review of the current literature and recommendations for implementation of mentoring schemes. The Plymouth Student Scientist, 2(1), 228-241. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/13865  |   Google Scholar
  23. Ingersoll, R. M., & Strong, M. (2011). The impact of induction and mentoring programs for beginning teachers: A critical review of the research. Review of Educational Research, 81(2), 201-233. doi: 10.3102/0034654311403323  |   Google Scholar
  24. Johnson, W. B. (2003). A framework for conceptualizing competence to mentor. Ethics & Behavior, 13(2), 127-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15327019EB1302_02  |   Google Scholar
  25. Knippelmeyer, S. A., & Torraco, R. J. (2007). Mentoring as a developmental tool for higher education. Retrieved June 12, 2021 from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED504765.pdf  |   Google Scholar
  26. Kougiourouki, M. (2013). I symvoli tis mikrodidaskalias sti didaktiki etoimotita tou ekpaideftikou: Apopseis foititon. Sto: M. Kougiourouki, P. Stravakou, & K. Chatzidimou (Epim.), Paidagogikes kai didaktikes erevnitikes meletes: Timitiko afieroma stin kathigitria Eleni Ef. Taratori-Tsalkatidou (ss. 143-162). Thessaloniki: Ekdotikos Oikos Adelfon Kyriakidi a.e. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  27. Law 4547/2018. Anadiorganosi ton domon ypostirixis tis protovathmias kai defterovathmias ekpaidefsis kai alles diataxeis. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  28. Law 4009/2011. Domi, leitourgia, diasfalisi tis poiotitas ton spoudon kai diethnopoiisi ton anotaton ekpaideftikon idrymaton. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  29. Law 3848/2010. Anavathmisi tou rolou tou ekpaideftikou - kathierosi kanonon axiologisis kai axiokratias stin ekpaidefsi kai loipes diataxeis. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  30. Leck, J., & Orser, B. (2013). Fostering trust in mentoring relationships: An exploratory study. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 32(4), 410-425. doi: 10.1108/EDI-01-2010-0007  |   Google Scholar
  31. Little, J. W. (1990). Chapter 6: The Mentor Phenomenon and the Social Organization of Teaching. Review of Research in Education, 16(1), 297-351. doi:10.3102/0091732X016001297  |   Google Scholar
  32. Lunsford, L., Crisp, G., Dolan, E. L., & Wuetherick, B. (2017). Mentoring in higher education. Retrieved June 12, 2021 from https://www.academia.edu/32618243/Mentoring_ in_Higher_Education  |   Google Scholar
  33. Merriam, S. B., Thomas, T. K., & Zeph, C. P. (1987). Mentoring in higher education: What we know now. The Review of Higher Education, 11(2), 199-210. doi: 10.1353/rhe.1987.0004  |   Google Scholar
  34. Russell, M. L., & Russell, J. A. (2011). Mentoring relationships: Cooperating teachers’ perspectives on mentoring student interns. Professional Educator, 35(1). Retrieved July 29, 2021 from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ988202.pdf  |   Google Scholar
  35. Schreier, M. (2012). Qualitative content analysis in practice. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.  |   Google Scholar
  36. See, N. L. M. (2014). Mentoring and developing pedagogical content knowledge in beginning teachers. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 123, 53-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.1397  |   Google Scholar
  37. Stravakou, P. A. (2019a). Postgraduate students’ views on their assessment and evaluation at university: A case study. International Journal of Education and Research, 7(8), 75-84. Retrieved from https://www.ijern.com/journal/2019/ August-2019/07.pdf  |   Google Scholar
  38. Stravakou, P. A. (2019b). Selecting school principals in Greece in the last fifteen years: A theoretical approach. Journal of Advances in Education and Philosophy, 3(8), 277-282.Retrieved from https://saudijournals.com/media/articles/ JAEP-38-277-282-c.pdf  |   Google Scholar
  39. Stravakou, P. A. (2007). Mentoras. Sto: P. D. Xochellis (Epim.), Lexiko tis Paidagogikis (s.s. 440-442). Thessaloniki: Ekdotikos Oikos Adelfon Kyriakidi a.e. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  40. Stravakou, P. A. (2003). O diefthyntis tis scholikis monadas protovathmias kai defterovathmias ekpaidefsis: Theoritiki analysi kai empeiriki dierevnisi. Thessaloniki: Ekdotikos Oikos Adelfon Kyriakidi a.e. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  41. Strong, M., & Baron, W. (2004). An analysis of mentoring conversations with beginning teachers: Suggestions and responses. Teaching and Teacher Education, 20(1), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2003.09.005  |   Google Scholar
  42. Sundli, L. (2007). Mentoring – a new mantra for education?. Teaching and Teacher Education, 23, 201-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2006.04.016  |   Google Scholar
  43. Taratori, E. (2004). Daskalos i daskala; Oi mathites epilegoun - mia poiotiki erevna. Sto: D. Chatzidimou, E. Taratori, M. Kougiourouki, & P. Stravakou (Epim.), Praktika tou 4ou Panelliniou Synedriou tis Paidagogikis Etaireias Ellados: Elliniki Paidagogiki kai Ekpaideftiki Erevna (ss. 757-764). Thessaloniki: Ekdotikos Oikos Adelfon Kyriakidi a.e. Greek.  |   Google Scholar
  44. Viorel, C. I. (2018). The need for mentoring in the preuniversity educational system. In S. Văduna, I. Ș. Fotea, & A. R. Thomas (Eds.), Solutions for Business, Culture and Religion in Eastern Europe and Beyond: The 2016 Griffiths School of Management Annual Conference on Business, Entrepreneurship and Ethics (GSMAC) (pp. 89-97). Switzerland: Springer.  |   Google Scholar
  45. Wai-Packard, B. (2009). Definition of mentoring. Retrieved June 10, from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.800.1635&rep=rep1&type=pdf  |   Google Scholar
  46. Woodd, M. (1997). Mentoring in further and higher education: Learning from the literature. Education + Training, 39(9), 333-343. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400919710192368  |   Google Scholar

How to Cite

Stravakou, P. A., & Lozgka, E. C. (2022). Postgraduate Students’ Views on Mentoring in the Educational and Academic Context. European Journal of Education and Pedagogy, 3(3), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejedu.2022.3.3.319

Search Panel

 Pelagia A. Stravakou
 Google Scholar |   EJEDU Journal

 Evangelia C. Lozgka
 Google Scholar |   EJEDU Journal