"Mentoring is a deliberate pairing of a more skilled or experienced person with a lesser skilled or experienced one, with the agreed-upon goal of having the lesser skilled person grow and develop specific competencies.*"

E-Mentoring Project Overview:

What is the e-mentoring scheme?

The e-mentoring project is an innovative new scheme run by the Faculty of Sciences.
All first year students in biological sciences, forensic science, geography, psychology and mental health will be offered free mentoring by their peers in the second and third years.

It has been created with two outcomes in mind:
1) To offer first year students an effective support system from people who understand from their perspective.
2) To provide second and third year students with training and experience of mentoring, which will enable them to use their experiences gained at university for the benefit of others and to enhance their CV.

What happens?

Early in the first term, all first year students in the subject areas participating in the scheme will be contacted via their university e-mail address by their personal e-mentor. These trained mentors, who are all second and third year students within the faculty, can offer practical advice, encouragement and reassurance. They will be familiar with the range of Staffordshire University and Students Union initiatives designed to provide students with advice and guidance. Direct entrants into the second or third year will also be provided with the opportunity to participate in this e-mentoring scheme. Each e-mentor will have up to eight e-mentees. E-mentors and e-mentees will be matched by subject area, and as far as possible, by award.

How long will the project last?

The e-mentoring scheme starts in September and will run for the academic year, through to June.


* Murray, M. (1991). Beyond the Myths and Magic of Mentoring: How to Facilitate an Effective Mentoring Program. New York: Wiley