The Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Mentoring Scheme

Argues that, although the move away from traditional qualifications towards vocational learning programmes led to UK studies which have focused on a re‐examining of the roles that are necessary in support of the learner, there has been, however, an absence of a thorough analysis of the role of the “mentor”. Seeks to redress this by using an action research methodology to record the establishment of a mentoring support scheme for the Institute of Management Certificate in Management. This has developed seven key elements of competence for mentors involved in such programmes, which have aided the development of selection and training programmes. Responses from 72 NVC candidates to these elements have been surveyed and all were related between “important” and “very important”. Concludes that the results should be viewed in the light of the limitations of the instrument as a single source of information, and therefore further research should be undertaken.