Teaching and Learning Resources

Mentoring is considered to be a process for the informal transmission of knowledge, social capital and the psycho-social support perceived by the recipient as relevant to work, career or professional development (Bozeman & Feeney, 2007). You can most likely identify a person or perhaps a number of people, who have influenced how you approach academic life. They could be teachers, friends or employers. What they have in common is a relationship in which they used their own experience to help you to achieve your goals.

Mentoring in academia is often initiated by arrangements such as academic advising, classroom teaching or faculty support. With a focus on personal growth, the aim is to enhance, monitor and evaluate the mentee’s learning experience. Mentoring can be either a formal or an informal arrangement. It is sustained because of a perceived reciprocity between the participants.

Related Resources

Developing a Mentoring Program includes models for planning and implementing a program and tools for mentors.
Mentor Teacher offers advice for beginning mentors.
The Thin Chalk Line discusses the fine line between too much or too little mentoring.

Mentoring in Academia: Considerations for Diverse Populations is an important resource for considering and addressing issues of diversity when mentoring.

Mentoring in Academia: Research and Resources  (PDF) is a comprehensive site focused on women in academia and the mentoring of undergraduate students and junior faculty.

The International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching is an academic publication published by Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane Australia.