Why mentoring students in higher education is important
The article discusses the critical role of mentorship in higher education, arguing that it should go beyond administrative rituals to provide genuine guidance. It outlines essential mentor skills, including empathy, aptitude assessment, and the ability to set professional boundaries.
Why it matters
Effective mentorship is vital for student development and mental health, yet it remains an under-supported aspect of the Indian academic system.
B ehind every successful individual is a mentor. Homer’s Odyssey refers to Odysseus’ close friend Mentor, who guided the former’s son during his father’s long absence. Socrates mentored Plato, who tutored Aristotle. In the Indian tradition, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa mentored Swami Vivekananda and Chanakya was Chandragupta Maurya’s mentor. In modern times, Maya Angelou mentored Oprah Winfrey, and Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and Brahm Prakash mentored A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
All human beings need mentors. We look for someone who will show us the way forward, listen to our success stories, worries and anxieties with empathy and be a moral compass in our lives. While higher educational institutions (HEIs) in India mandate that faculty should counsel students and help them navigate their academic and non-academic lives, unfortunately, mentoring has become a ritual where the faculty meet their wards only for the sake of records meant for accrediting agencies.
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