Academic Practice and Student Experience

Peer Mentoring

STUDENTS SUPPORTING STUDENTS

UEL's Peer Mentoring scheme brings together 2nd and 3rd year students to become mentors to new first year students. The scheme is co-ordinated by the Academic Practice & Student Experience Team and supported by the Employability and Enterprise Team at the University of East London.  The Scheme matches 2nd/3rd year mentors to first year mentees so that they can offer support and encouragement during the first few weeks and beyond to ease mentees into life at UEL, in London and the UK as a whole if you are an overseas student. Universities both nationally and internationally recognise the benefits of peer mentoring and the support it offers to new students entering Higher Education.

Mentees are matched to a peer mentor who will be either on the same course or from the same School.

What is Peer Mentoring?

Peer Mentoring is the relationship shared between a mentor and a mentee. A mentor is an individual who can offer guidance, support and knowledge to enable a mentee to settle into a new environment.

The semi professional relationship can be conducted through face to face meetings and email enabling the mentor to offer support through sharing their own experiences and ideas, answering questions and offering encouragement.

The mentor is a positive role model during a time of transition for the mentee that an often lead on to a continued friendship once the peer mentoring programme has finished.

What are the aims of Peer Mentoring?

• To develop the mentee’s confidence and motivation
• To develop a positive trusting relationship between Mentor and Mentee
• To enhance the sense of community at UEL
• To develop both mentor and mentee’s interpersonal skills

For mentees, the scheme provides a great source of support from someone who is a few steps ahead in their university career. For mentors, you will be developing transferable skills, meeting new people and building your confidence as well as gaining some great experience for your CV.  The UEL scheme is voluntary and works around the mentor and mentee.

What Peer Mentoring isn't…

UEL Student Peer Mentors cannot help with certain issues, however they can direct mentees to other sources of help and support at UEL.

The things they cannot help mentees with are:

Personal problems or issues that are affecting your studies and your life in general	Mentors can either direct mentees to UEL's Student Health and Wellbeing team or they can refer a mentee back to the Peer Mentoring Coordinators who can also help
Careers Guidance	UEL’s Employability & Enterprise team are fully qualified to give all students careers guidance and counselling as well as helping students to build skills and get ready for work
One to one tutoring and proof reading of coursework	Mentors can direct mentees to our Skillzone service

 

 

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