Mentoring Charter* : The role of the mentor
Mentoring for distance learning courses in the Master of Public Health program at Aix-Marseille University is designed to put a trainee (the mentee) in relation with, preferably, a member of the pedagogical team (the mentor).
1. Definition and objectives
Mentoring refers to an interpersonal relationship of support, assistance, exchange and learning.
An experienced individual - the mentor - provides another individual - the mentee - with long-distance support by sharing his/her wisdom and expertise throughout the internship. The mentee must acquire skills and knowledge and must pursue the internship objectives.
The mentor does not provide all the answers, but draws on his/her own experience to help the mentee develop the resources needed to become increasingly autonomous and to assist him/her in reflecting on the internship work. Above all, the mentor listens to the mentee, questions him/her on the advances he/she has made, monitors his/her progress, helps him/her resolve certain difficulties, and advises him/her on where to find other knowledge and information.
2. General principles and role of actors
Mentoring does not involve:
- taking on the role of training supervisor,
- taking on the role of professor.
Mentoring implies co-responsibility by both the mentor and the mentee:
- The mentor defines the framework of the relationship. He/she shares his/her experience and knowledge and contributes to the evaluation of the mentee.
- The mentee is accountable for the decisions he/she makes and the results he/she achieves, under the responsibility of the training supervisor who contributes to his/her evaluation.
3. Mentoring process
Duration of mentoring
Mentoring begins in February and lasts until the trainee’s submission of his/her internship dissertation. This corresponds to a period of 5 months.
Meetings
The mentee must initiate contact with the mentor.
The mentor facilitates long-distance exchanges (videoconference, email, etc.) with the mentee, including at least one meeting:
- before or at the very beginning of the internship;
- mid-way through the internship;
- 10 days before the end of the internship.
Additional exchanges can take place at the convenience of both parties.
*Based on the mentoring charter of the Ecole nationale supérieure des sciences de l’information et des bibliothèques.
