Research mentorship profiling and assessment of effectiveness within graduate programs at a Philippine State University

Research mentorship plays a critical role in strengthening graduate students’ research productivity and scholarly development, particularly in higher education institutions where publication is a degree requirement. This study examined the effectiveness of research mentorship within the Graduate Programs of a Philippine State University by assessing mentor qualities, mentee experiences, and research-related outcomes. A descriptive–correlational quantitative design was employed using validated instruments, including the Mentorship Profiling Scale and the Mentorship Effectiveness Scale developed by Berk et al. (2005). Data were collected from sixty-one (61) graduate students and recent alumni representing five academic programs. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze mentorship outcomes, perceived mentor characteristics, and the predictive role of mentee engagement. Results showed that conducting research was the most frequently achieved mentorship outcome, reported by 78.69% of respondents, followed by publication-related activities (40.98%). Mentors were rated highest in terms of approachability, supportiveness, encouragement, and motivation to improve scholarly work, with 88.52% of participants expressing strong agreement on these attributes. Regression analysis revealed that mentorship effectiveness (β = 0.41, p = 0.002) and mentee engagement (β = 0.36, p = 0.006) significantly predicted positive academic and professional outcomes, jointly explaining 39% of the variance in research productivity. The findings highlight the importance of structured, evidence-based research mentoring systems in graduate education. The study underscores the need for institutionalized mentoring guidelines to ensure consistency, sustainability, and alignment with best practices. Strengthening research mentorship contributes to quality graduate education and supports Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by fostering equitable access to effective academic support and a productive research culture.