Examining the impact of a university mentorship program on student outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah K. Hamilton ◽  
Jennifer Boman ◽  
Harris Rubin ◽  
Balreen K. Sahota
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mentorship Program ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the outcomes of a formal university mentorship program that paired junior and senior (third and fourth year) undergraduate student mentees with mentors from industry. Specifically, the researchers examined the effects of mentorship on mentees’ psychological sense of community at the university, and job search self-efficacy (confidence). Design/methodology/approach The researchers used a mixed-methods design that incorporated survey data and qualitative data from interviews and focus groups. Where relevant, mentees were compared to a control group of students who did not participate in the mentorship program. Findings The results demonstrate that the mentees accrued several benefits from participating in the mentorship program. For mentees (but not the control group), job search self-efficacy increased over time as a result of participating in the program. Mentees valued receiving practical career-related support such as opportunities for networking, resume development and job interviewing skills. Mentees also gained a more realistic view about the workplace and their potential career options, and received important psychosocial support from their mentor. Originality/value Results suggest that junior and senior undergraduate student mentees gained professional and career-related benefits including increased job search self-efficacy from participation in a mentorship program that paired them with mentors from industry. In addition, the qualitative results indicate that mentees reported psychosocial benefits including an increased sense of connection to the university. Altogether, results indicate that undergraduate students experience positive outcomes from participating in mentorship programs designed to prepare them for the transition from university to the workplace.

scholarly journals Linking Mentoring and Job Search Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110672
Author(s):  
Ruirui Lian ◽  
Wenjing Cai ◽  
Kun Chen ◽  
Hongru Shen ◽  
Xiaopei Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
College Graduates ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Job Search Behavior ◽  
Search Behaviors ◽  
The Impact

The present research aims to explore the impact of mentoring relationship on college graduates’ job search behavior among Chinese undergraduate students by examining the mediator of job search intention and the moderator of job search self-efficacy. A two-wave survey study was conducted in China ( N = 594). Our findings show a positive indirect relation between mentoring and college graduates’ job search behaviors through job search intention. The graduates’ job search self-efficacy positively moderated the indirect relationship such that when job search self-efficacy was higher, the influence of mentoring on behavior via job search intention was stronger. These findings extend the literature by clarifying how and when mentoring facilitates graduates’ job search behaviors and provide practical implications for facilitating a smooth school-to-work transition in China. As the first study that empirically clarifies why (through job search intention) and when (job search self-efficacy) mentoring function is positively related to job search behavior among Chinese undergraduate students, the present study contributes to the existing mentoring and job search literature. Future research is encouraged to extend the findings by integrating theory of planned behavior (TPB) with self-regulation theory toward deepening current understanding of how and when mentoring can contribute to a student’s success in job search behavior.

Internship impact on career consideration among business students

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1003-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Rothman ◽  
Ruth Sisman
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Career Path ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Job Functions ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on the impact of the internship experience on business students’ career intentions in regard to pursuing a career path in the same job function or industry as their internship. Design/methodology/approach After completing and reflecting on an internship, 198 undergraduate students responded to the prompt: “discuss the impact of the internship on your career consideration.” Responses were analyzed using a content analysis methodology in order to determine whether or not interns would pursue the same job functions (e.g. sales) or industry (e.g. non-profit) as their internship in their post-graduation job search. Findings Across the job functions and industries identified within the internships, 54 and 45 percent of interns confirmed their expectations of career fit, respectively. The implications of confirming and disconfirming these expectations for students are discussed. Originality/value Given the value of internships to business students, surprisingly few studies have examined their influence on undergraduates’ career considerations. Students select internships with the intention of learning about job functions or industries for possible career fit, yet the authors know little about whether the experience confirms or disconfirms their expectations. This study seeks to address this gap. The authors suggest that internships, as experiential activities, merit greater attention as they provide students opportunities to learn what they do or do not want to do, where they do or do not want to work and whether their self-concept fits a possible career path – saving themselves and potential employers the cost of job dissatisfaction and turnover.

Evaluation of community-based psychological first aid in oncology

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-255
Author(s):  
Brandon L. Gray ◽  
Samuel Gaster ◽  
Christina Early ◽  
Amanda Reed
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
High Stress ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Psychological First Aid ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Healthcare professionals work in high stress environments and may benefit from organizational efforts that enhance coping abilities. Community-based psychological first aid (CBPFA) is an evidence-informed program designed for building these skills and promoting resilience during stressful times. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of CBPFA. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This study examined the effectiveness of CBPFA training in promoting occupational self-efficacy and intentions to use CBPFA among oncology care staff over time using a longitudinal design. Findings Participants reported increased occupational self-efficacy and intentions to use CBPFA skills after completing training. These factors remained stable at one-month follow-up. Research limitations/implications The implications of these results are limited by the lack of a control group in the study’s design, relatively homogenous sample and participant dropout. Originality/value Despite the study’s limitations, these results represent an initial step in empirically examining the impact of CBPFA trainings and providing evidence that CBPFA may be an effective preparedness and development program in high-stress healthcare settings.

Does gender matter? A university ecosystem, self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention analysis in Brazilian universities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisela Consolmagno Pelegrini ◽  
Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The University ◽  
Probabilistic Sample ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to enlighten existing gender differences in the linkages between university ecosystem, self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention in a developing country. Design/methodology/approach The empirical exercise relies on Partial Least Squares Structural Equations Modeling based on data from a probabilistic sample of 467 Brazilian students of 70 universities across the country. Findings The university ecosystem positively influences self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurial intention is also influenced by self-efficacy. Gender difference lies in females’ self-efficacy, which presents a higher impact on entrepreneurial intentions. Research limitations/implications The research used a secondary database, which offered a limited view of the constructs analyzed. Moreover, by evaluating perception conditions, students’ self-evaluation may not offer conditions to better comprehend higher education organizations conditions. Practical implications This paper provided an evaluation of entrepreneurship in universities and gender differences, also presenting an analysis tool for university ecosystems. The assessment of the university ecosystem in two dimensions helps to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of university ecosystems and also the impact they can have on the entrepreneurial ecosystems in which they are inserted. Originality/value This study added in-depth information on the dynamics of entrepreneurial universities and gender differences in the context of a developing country, with a probabilistic sample. Both the comprehensive analysis of the model and the assessment at the variable level bring new evidence that can guide entrepreneurship-oriented initiatives in universities.

Community responses to the removal of bottled water on a university campus

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Mikhailovich ◽  
Robert Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Community Responses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aimed to examine the impact of the removal of bottled water on the campus community. This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted at the first Australian university to remove single-use bottled water from sale on a small regional university campus. The removal of bottled water from sale at the university formed part of the university’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – The study was conducted substantially by undergraduate students who participated in an action learning project in which they assisted in the design, implementation and analysis of an online snapshot survey made available to all staff and students of the university. Findings – The results indicated some evidence of changes to pro-environmental behaviors such as increased use of re-fillable bottles, but there were less desirable outcomes such as drinking less water. Community perceptions were dramatically polarized. Restrictions on freedom of choice, concerns about health as a result of increased use of high-sugar drinks and the continued availability of other plastic drink bottles were provided as strong objections to the removal of bottled water from sale on campus. Practical implications – The study provides useful insights for university sustainability planners and administrators about the complex range of issues associated with the implementation of sustainability initiatives on a university campus. Originality/value – While extensive literature exists about the environmental impacts of bottled water, few studies have explored the impacts or community responses to the removal of bottled water in the university context.

Undergraduate student information self-efficacy and library intervention

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 468-481
Author(s):  
Yingqi Tang ◽  
Hungwei Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Student Information ◽  
Information Finding

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate undergraduate student information self-efficacy to find out how much the students learned from library instruction classes and to determine whether information seeking skills can be developed with a library instruction class. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research method was conducted to collect survey data and to perform statistical analysis. A Web-based survey was distributed to undergraduate students who were enrolled in the Fall term of 2014. In all, 98 students completed the survey. Findings The study reported that undergraduate students’ capability of information finding, retrieving, analyzing, evaluating and presenting were on and above medium level (M = 3.40). They reported higher skills in information evaluation and information objects and types but lower skills in using catalog/database and organizing/synthesizing information. Students in the multiple library instruction group showed a significantly higher information self-efficacy. One-single instruction has a limited effect on improving information seeking skills. Research limitations/implications The number of students who participated in library instruction classes was relatively low. More data need to be collected to give credence to the findings in the future, and data collected from individual class would yield more accurate result. Originality/value This study extends the literature on information literacy and library instruction. The findings suggest that information literacy instruction should go beyond the one-session mode and should offer hands-on practices that will foster students’ critical thinking behavior more effectively.

B(u)y the book: evaluation of a university initiative to provide students with funds to buy books

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-200
Author(s):  
Frances Porritt ◽  
Linda Murphy ◽  
Gemma Wells ◽  
Emma Burns
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reading List ◽  
Undergraduate Study ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose In the era of high student fees and intense market competition, many universities now buy books for their new students, and recently have incorporated student choice into the offer, enabling students to choose how to spend funds. Teesside University has successfully piloted such an approach with one academic School, the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. The pilot has now been extended to all academic Schools, with all students receiving £100 per academic year to spend on reading list books. The scheme covers new full-time undergraduate students at the University, and is operated in collaboration with an external company, John Smiths. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the Teesside University Advance scheme against baseline data of book borrowing and reservation patterns of reading list titles. The paper explores the impact upon the student experience and student perceptions of the Library. Design/methodology/approach The project used a mixed methods approach. The quantitative strand analysed book borrowing and reservation patterns data from library systems and from book purchasing patterns data provided by the online store supporting the scheme. Students were also surveyed about the scheme. The qualitative strand, via one-to-one interviews conducted by the student researcher, gained an insight into why students select certain titles to purchase; and what their expectations of the university library are for the supply of reading list titles. Findings Analysis revealed an overall decline in book borrowing from the library of the titles selected for purchase by students via the scheme. Student perceptions of the library were positive and demonstrated a strategic use of library resources alongside book purchases and open web resources. At early stages of university undergraduate study, students need guidance on most appropriate resources to use and why, from either reading lists or book bundles. Originality/value Teesside University scheme is unique in the UK in covering all new full-time undergraduates and letting them choose which reading list titles to buy with the university funds provided.

Independent and digital reading among undergraduates: the case of the University of Mauritius

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-310
Author(s):  
Caroline Rabaud ◽  
Naushad Mamode Khan ◽  
Smita Rampat
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Independent Reading ◽  
Digital Reading ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Motivation To Read ◽  
Impact Of Technology ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Undeniably, the growing influence of technology has had a significant impact on the reading process of undergraduate students and it is thus of priority interest now to understand the factors influencing independent and digital reading. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach In total, 231 questionnaires were administered among undergraduates at the University of Mauritius. A factor analysis was carried out and it was revealed that the attitude toward reading was mainly influenced by six aspects termed “Entertaining and Important,” “Lack of Interest,” “Convenience of Digital Reading,” “Utilitarian Purposes,” “Difficult Access to Reading Materials” and the “Compulsory Aspect.” This paper focuses also on determinants which could influence the behavior of undergraduates toward independent reading. In this sense, a binary logistic regression was performed. Findings Factors such as gender, the motivation to read and the time spent reading for academic purposes were found to be significant predictors. Also, given the impact of technology on the lifestyle, it was important to determine whether the respondents had adopted digital reading over printed reading by taking into consideration their preferred reading format. This query was taken care by a multinomial regression analysis where gender, faculty belonging and internet connection on mobile were found to influence the preferred method of reading by undergraduates. Originality/value The objectives are to analyze the reading habits and attitude of the undergraduates toward reading, evaluate factors which influence a student to engage in independent reading, determine factors that are likely to encourage students to prefer digital reading given the innovation in the e-reading field and to explore a possible relationship between independent reading and digital reading.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic concerns and gender on mentor seeking behavior and self-efficacy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal van Esch ◽  
William Luse ◽  
Robert L. Bonner
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Role Modeling ◽  
Career Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study examined the effects of gender and pandemic concerns on mentorship seeking behavior during the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its relationship to self-efficacy.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes the data collected from 253 academics in a quantitative survey administered online.FindingsWomen and those with higher levels of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to seek mentorship. During this time of uncertainty role modeling was sought more than career support and psychosocial support. All three functions of mentorship seeking were positively associated with higher levels of self-efficacy.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study finds that individuals turn to mentors when they are concerned about macro-level events (e.g. a global pandemic). Additionally, individuals who self-identify as women sought mentorship to a greater extent than men. In this way, it is not only the situation that matters (like women having fewer resources and more demands than men) but also the perception of a situation (like how concerned individuals were about the COVID-19 pandemic). Additionally, this paper helps to further develop the understanding of the mentorship function of role modeling.Practical implicationsOrganizations and mentors ought to be cognizant of role modeling during times of crisis, especially for women, this may be counterintuitive to the inclination to provide career and psychosocial support for mentees.Originality/valueThis study examines the gendered implications for mentoring during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study specifically examines mentorship seeking behavior and its influence on self-efficacy during uncertain times.

Active learning and instructor accessibility in online talent training: a field experiment in China during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingheng Wang ◽  
Weihan Lin ◽  
Yan Jiang ◽  
Yihua Wu ◽  
Yingyi Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Learning ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Online Training ◽  
Learning Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Design Factors

Purpose Drawing on self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan, 2012) and Hew’s (2016) five-factor model, our study aimed to investigate the impact of two online training design factors (instructor accessibility and active learning) on learner’s self-efficacy and learning outcome amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach A randomized pretest-posttest control group field experiment was designed to assess participants’ self-efficacy and learning outcome of an online training program - territory business management plan, under three conditions: instructor accessibility, active learning, and controlled. Participants (N=87) were medical sales representatives from a Fortune-Global 500 pharmaceutical company’s subsidiary office in China. Data was analyzed with 2 (time) x 3 (group) MANOVA with time (pretest and posttest) as a repeated measure to investigate differences in changes in self-efficacy and learning outcome between three groups. Findings Overall, participants’ self-efficacy and learning outcome were significantly improved via the online training program for all three groups. Specifically, the impact of the training on learning outcome was the strongest for the active learning group, less strong for the instructor accessibility group, and the least strong for the control group. Originality/value Our research contributes towards understandings of the effectiveness of online talent training programs by examining two critical instructional design factors during a time of crisis. Our findings suggest that active learning (interactions with the training materials by purposeful self-reflection) might be a stronger predictor for increasing learning outcome than instructor accessibility (receiving feedback and tutoring sessions from the instructor) for online training programs.

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