Session 11: Enhancing the student community: PGR and student experiences of the Critical Academia Mentorship Scheme

Abstract

In January 2023, four PGR students from the School of Justice Studies designed a mentorship scheme funded by the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion (CCSE) research centre. The scheme aimed to identify promising Level 5 (L5) students who showed an interest in post-graduate study or demonstrated good ability to grapple with criminological theory who would benefit from dedicated mentoring. Mentees were matched with a PGR mentor to (i) provide consistent support to develop their critical thinking and analytical skills related to criminological theory, (ii) to provide a safe space for mentees to discuss ideas openly outside the classroom, and (iii) to develop confidence and future graduate skills. This scheme was supported by a pedagogical vision to depart from a didactic model of teaching and learning, to an ‘engaged’ (hooks, 1994; 2010) and egalitarian (Sanzen, 1994) approach. The mentorship scheme successfully supported eight L5 students from January 2023 to December 2023, and resumed in January 2024 due to its initial success. The mentors’ intent was to evaluate the scheme to capture the mentees' experiences. Data collection consisted of a quantitative survey at the beginning and end of the scheme, with qualitative data generated through visual and participatory methods. This presentation will illuminate the collaborative student voice in two ways: reflecting the undergraduate voice by utilising the findings from their feedback; and by drawing upon the insight of PGR mentors and their pedagogical reasons for designing and conducting this mentorship scheme. This demonstrates the ways in which a mentoring scheme can enhance the student community through developing a co-learning space (Freire, 1972), whilst simultaneously developing academic skills for both undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts within a diverse student community (Addy et al., 2023).