Shaping the next generation – the experience of being a student mentor

This presentation reports on a research project, being undertaken across two universities, evaluating the impact of students’ participation in extra-curricula volunteering activities. The literature demonstrates that there is little understanding of how extra-curricular volunteering might enhance the experience of higher education and prepare students for future roles. The main aim of the research is therefore to evaluate the motivations, expectations and experiences of students, drawn from a range of academic disciplines, for undertaking volunteering work commonly beyond their academic studies. The research draws on the particular volunteering example of mentoring young people in public care. The research questions whether and how such activities may further the development of citizenship and enhance the education of participants. A discrete theme within the study is that a number of mentors are undertaking professional courses of training, typically teacher training or social work education. Consequently, the study also examines how mentoring may inform professional development and values alongside how career choices may impact on the mentoring role.