With increasing pressures on colleges to improve results, colleagues are looking for ways to improve the ability of students to be proactive independent learners. This in turn will offer ways of improving retention and achievement and reduce at the same time the teaching and learning load on staff. It can be used to help with learning for the whole of a student group across all ability ranges and for improving social skills and behaviour.

A framework can be developed for the whole of a college or in particular departments or sections – or it can be gradually implemented as more mentors are trained.

Typically, a tailor-made programme will provide a day or introductory training and then a specific programme of follow-up support and guidance leading to implementation.

The introductory programme will normally include:

• The mentor as a learning coach
• Roles and responsibilities of mentors and students
• The main concepts of self-organised learning
• Methods for the mentor
• Completing Personal Learning Plans
• Peer-mentoring
• Helping mentors, as well as students, evaluate and improve their own performance
• Practical implementation considerations

  A mentoring programme and framework can also be developed for college staff