How mentoring can benefit second-year students

Second-year students studying criminology and social science were asked to apply for a position to mentor level one students in the Applying Research module at the University of Lincoln. The mentoring ran over a four-month period from January to April, with the mentors working alongside academic staff and attending four selected seminars. In addition, they were required to take part in a focus group, a World Café event and a colloquia event. When looking at the benefits that mentoring gives to second-year students, it was decided to go beyond the obvious enhancement to CVs and consider what mentors gain from the experience. By participating in the mentoring scheme, students hoped to expand their current knowledge and improve their transferable skills. This article will cover the reflections of the mentors on how mentoring can benefit secondyear students.