Peer Mentoring
Information on the Peer Mentoring Programme, including upcoming training for mentors.
Peer Mentors help to enhance and promote the overall University experience of their fellow students, enabling new students to develop a sense of belonging.
From September, you will support a small group of Stage 1 students to settle into their course and life at Newcastle University. You will provide support through the sharing of information about relevant University services and resources, or by simply sharing your experiences as a student.
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What skills are required to become a Peer Mentor?
Besides looking for students with a commitment to helping others, we are also looking for students with:
- excellent communication skills
- active listening skills
- strong organisational skills
- the ability to be non-judgmental, supportive, reliable and trustworthy
What does being a Peer Mentor involve?
Training - Training takes place during April-June. You will be required to complete a one-hour online training course and then attend a one-hour workshop. Attendance at training is compulsory. If you do not attend, you cannot be a Peer Mentor.
Online Refresher Training (one hour) - This training is completed in August/September as a reminder of what you learned earlier in the year.
Pre-Arrival Welcome Letter - You will be required to write a welcome letter introducing yourself to your mentees prior to their arrival in September.
Induction Period Meeting – Your School will schedule an event during the induction period, giving you the opportunity to meet your mentees for the first time.
Organise and lead four further meetings during Semester one with your mentees - Where and what these meetings involve is the responsibility of each mentor – you can make them as formal or informal as you wish. Suggestions of what to do and what to discuss will be available, but mentors are encouraged to use their own initiative and seek feedback from their own mentees with regards to what they would like to do/need advice with.
Why should I become a Peer Mentor?
You will get the opportunity to support a group of first year students and share your knowledge. Doing something for the wider student community will help you to create connections with the people around you and can be incredibly rewarding.
You will receive an invitation to the Peer Mentor Thank You Event and the opportunity to become Peer Mentor of the Year. This is an awards ceremony with lots of food and drink and the opportunity to win a certificate and a prize!
You will gain recognition on your Higher Education Academic Record on completion of a short reflective log. When students graduate, they are given a copy of their HEAR record. This record enables institutions to provide a detailed picture of student achievement throughout a students’ time at university, including academic work, extracurricular activities (such as Peer Mentoring), prizes and employability awards, voluntary work and offices held in student union clubs and societies that have been verified by the institution. This record is something that employers may ask to see, so having as many achievements on there as possible is a bonus.
Your experience will contribute towards the NCL+ Award. This is an award run by the Students’ Union, whereby students who complete more than 50 hours of extracurricular activities* can become eligible for this award. Part of the award involves reflecting on the transferable skills you have learned in completing these activities and this will also go on your HEAR record. (* this can include any extracurricular activity that does not count towards part of your degree and includes (but is not limited to); part-time employment, volunteering, being a member of a society, being a student rep, being part of a sports team, hobbies/learning something in your spare time, etc.)
You will enhance your personal development and employability skills, such as communication, leadership and organisation. The Graduate Framework includes all the skills that employers are looking for in a graduate. Wherever you go after university, employers are looking for applicants who can demonstrate these skills. Many of the skills listed in the Graduate Framework are skills that you will develop as a Peer Mentor. During Peer Mentor training you will be shown how to record and extract what you have learned as a Peer Mentor and how to articulate what skills you have developed for other purposes.
How do I become a Peer Mentor?
If you are interested in becoming a Peer Mentor, please contact your Staff Coordinator in the first instance for further details.
Recruitment for new Peer Mentors commences at the end of Semester 1. You will need to complete an application form. Once your application has been approved, you will be sent links to register for training. This training is compulsory and must be completed in order to become a Peer Mentor.
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