From Advising to Mentoring

As student cohorts diversify, wellbeing needs increase, and students balance multiple pressures and responsibilities with their studies. As such, paying attention to how students experience their university education both inside and outside the classroom, and the issues they encounter, becomes increasingly important. While one-off activities can partially ameliorate some aspects of engagement, interventions across the student lifecycle can foster belonging and engagement while supporting overall wellbeing and experience. Over five years, the University of Melbourne introduced structured, personalised opportunities for undergraduate students and academic staff to meet and focus on belonging, engagement, and wellbeing. The Academic Mentoring program uniquely positions academic staff as advisers/mentors and students as key partners. Data evaluating the effectiveness across measures of student/staff experience included large-scale 2021–2022 evaluations that highlighted areas for programme design improvement, staff support development, and increasing engagement. Student engagement was measured institutionally through indicators meant to capture what students value/gain through the programme. Objectives, challenges, and opportunities of introducing personalisation at scale focused on improving experience, building a mentoring/connection culture and supporting progress, wellbeing, and success. This program charts whole-of-university student-centred implementation and ongoing commitment to holistic student support, providing unique contributions to international student success and national engagement research.