Topic:

Mentorship programme in Higher Education at NUST

Presenter

     Mr Geoffrey Shakwa
     Teaching and Learning Unit
     Namibia University of Science and Technology

  

Abstract

The concepts of faculty induction and mentoring are very important in the life of every new faculty member who takes up a position at a higher education institution and also to the students who would benefit from the years of training given to the new faculty member. Research shows that induction and mentoring programmes that run for some number of years and then incorporated into a comprehensive and sustained professional development process for faculty members are more effective. This presentation focuses on a model of a new faculty induction and mentoring programme (NFIMP) that is under development at NUST. Further, the presentation will address among others, the rationale for as well as features and benefits of the new faculty induction and mentorship programme. The presentation will also engage faculty members through a dialogue and questions seeking their input on the programme elements of the NFIMP. Contrary to some educational providers in higher education institutions who sometimes tend to believe that lecturers do not need a comprehensive training programme to prepare them for teaching in the Lecture Halls, mentorship programmes, if well developed, can integrate new faculty into the university community and are characteristic of good educational practice. The process of induction and mentoring as an aspect of professional development for new faculty yields the best result when it is long-term, department-based, collaborative and focuses on students' curricular development and learning.

 

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