Mentoring needs: the staff experiences of a peer-group mentoring programme in a tertiary education environment

This paper explores the mentoring needs of staff in a formal peer-group mentoring programme in a tertiary education institution in New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with one academic staff member and three administrative staff members after a year of participation in their peer-groups. The mentoring need categories of 'professional development' and 'coaching on work issues' were clearly defined and met for three of the respondents in each category. However, the remaining need categories had mixed results. Closer matching to job roles and a commitment to regular meetings were found to be critical factors in helping to meet mentoring needs.