The dual nature of mentorship in hackathons: traits that foster or hinder experience and educational value

This article examines the critical role of mentorship in hackathons, focusing on the traits that shape effective and less effective mentoring practices and their influence on participants’ experience and educational outcomes. The study analyses data from 88 semi-structured interviews. The analysis identified 10 characteristics of effective mentoring – including knowledgeability, accessibility, motivation, and experience – that enhance participant experience and can influence project outcomes, alongside 10 characteristics of less effective mentoring – such as unavailability, disorganisation, and excessive criticism – that hinder progress and reduce motivation. By detailing these characteristics and situating them within an explicit theoretical framework, the article addresses a research gap concerning the specific traits that constitute effective and less effective mentorship in the high-pressure, time-constrained hackathon environment, offering a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of mentorship dynamics. These insights can inform mentorship practice, enhancing the educational value, success, and impact of hackathons for organisers, mentors, and participants alike.