Peer Mentoring Programme
Having a peer mentor means you can access a wealth of experience from existing students and at the same time build up a network of fellow students from different years.
Being a peer mentor gives students the chance to build or improve soft skills, such as communication skills, team work and interpersonal skills, which are all sought after by employers.
The Peer Mentoring Programme is also a Nottingham Advantage Award module.
Why having a peer mentor is great
A peer mentor is a student in a higher year and therefore has been in your situation before and can help you get settled into university life and support you with general and academic queries. Our peer mentors are very approachable and eager to help.
What a peer mentor can help you with
- finding your way around campus and Nottingham.
- understanding university procedures.
- finding information.
- finding a student society.
- getting your head around university IT systems.
- getting to grips with university studies and independent learning.
- preparing for exams.
- difficulties in modules by giving explanations.
There are, however, some issues they won't be able to help you with, such as financial difficulties, relationship advice or emotional and welfare support. But, they will point you to a university service that will be able to help you. And of course, our peer mentors won't do your work for you or give you all the answers.
My peer mentor helped me, from the first week of courses, with tips about living in halls and making friends.
How you can find a peer mentor?
When you have made your choice to come to the University of Nottingham, emails would of come out to you with an induction pack. In there it gives you some information about the Engineering Peer Mentor programme. Peer Mentors are allocated by department and you will seem them around in your welcome week department sessions and throughout the year. They will be in the below hoodies.
If you want more 1:1 support please submit this request via this form. We will be then in contact with you and link you up with your mentor. Mentors are there to help you with any questions and to support and welcome you into University life.
Once the academic year has started, there are two ways to find a peer mentor
- Come along to any of the events and sessions that are ran by your department or organised by the faculty throughout the year and meet our brilliant peer mentors.
- Submit a form request to ask for more 1:1 support.
You can find further information for the academic year 2022/2023 by clicking here.
Meeting the peer mentors at the start of term was really helpful. I felt more relaxed and informed about the course and student life.
The year 2022/2023
This year, we will be returning to face-to-face events and sessions, to make sure all students.
Advantages of being a peer mentor
Peer mentors play a big part in supporting new students and helping the faculty to improve the experience students have while here at Nottingham. It is there eagerness to help and dedication to support new students that makes them a real asset to the faculty.
Benefits of being a peer mentor include
- learning a lot of soft skills, such as communication skills, team work, problem solving, adaptability, etc. These soft skills are sought after by employers and using examples from your experience as a peer mentor will help you to proof you have these skills and stand out.
- get these soft skills recognised by completing the associated Nottingham Advantage Award module.
- be part of a great team of peer mentors and make a difference for new students by supporting them to settle into university life.
- meet new people from different courses and expand your network.
- get a peer mentor hoodie.
- get the chance to be part of the peer mentoring events. Such as Wobble week events.
The variety of individual and group interactions, as well as face-to-face and online methods of communicating, have given me a breadth of opportunities to both develop new skills and utilise existing skills in new situations.
Who can become a peer mentor
- undergraduate students in their second year or above
- foundation year students who have started their first year of their undergraduate course
Training and support
Peer mentors attend a training session, where they get taught basic knowledge that will help them in their role as peer mentors. The training includes topics such as:
- communication - verbal, written and non-verbal
- building relationships
- reading body language
- communication tools such as active listening and using different types of questions
- what issues a peer mentor should help a mentee
- where to refer a mentee with an issue that is outside of the peer mentor's remit
Peer mentors are supported by the lead of the peer mentoring programme and can also seek advice and guidance from peer mentor leaders, who have at least one year of experience as a peer mentor. Peer mentors who are completing the associated Nottingham Advantage Award module are also offered support session to understand what is required to complete the module and about the reflective piece.
All in all, I would highly recommend a peer mentoring experience to any student who wants to improve their communication skills, build resilience, learn about healthy tips and tricks which will assist you while building a rapport with people around you.
How the peer mentoring programme works
The peer mentoring programme consists of a series of events and sessions, that are held throughout the year by departments and the faculty, where new students can meet with peer mentors in a relaxed atmosphere. The events are designed to bring peer mentors and new students together and give them a chance to get to know each other. These informal meetings will lead to 1-2-1 mentoring opportunities, if that is something you want.
There is also an online platform, in which you will be added to via teams and we also have the Engineering and Architecture Community Moodle page. Moodle is the university's learning platform that is used to support all modules, which makes it easy for students to access the Community Moodle page. The page is a one-stop place for students to find information about topics such as industrial placements, study abroad, careers and employability service, sports on campus, extenuating circumstances, events and news and, much more, and to connect with their peers.
Events throughout the year
- Welcome Week - you will meet your peer mentors during one of the welcome week activities of your department. You will get the opportunity ask questions and get to know them.
- Oct-Nov - Will be wobble week and a variety of events will be put on. This give you the chance to get to know your peer mentors while doing something fun.
- Revision Support Week - during the last week of November, Masterclasses by peer mentors about exam revision and coursework will be uploaded to the Engineering and Architecture Community Moodle page, so new students can get tips and tricks from their peer mentors. Your peer mentors will be there to support you through your first exam period.
- Second term- Mentors will support with department events and sessions, such as project weeks to help guide you though those sessions.
- Celebratory Activity - in June, we organise another fun event for new students and peer mentors where you can celebrate all you have achieved during your first year. And your peer mentors will still be there to support you with anything you need.
What the Engineering and Architecture Community Moodle page can be used for?
- See what's on - the news and events section holds a wide range of news and events that are relevant to students
- Find information - the Community Moodle page holds a wide range of information, about extracurricular activities students can take part in, support information such as about the Welfare Team, extenuating circumstance, etc.
What the Teams page can be used for?
- Ask questions and talk to other first years and your mentors.
- Be part of an online Enginnering community.
- Variety of resources are also there to support you in your first year at University,
The combination of events and the Engineering Moodle page and Teams provides the students with plenty of opportunities to meet with peer mentors and get their support when they need it.