Mentorship

For faculty members, aligning their mentorship with specific learning objectives is critical in shaping a student’s development. The following mentoring practices are offered as ideas to help empower the student, build healthy research habits and ensure success.

Establish clear expectations

• Articulate the goals, scope, and expectations of the research project.
• Discuss the student's role, responsibilities and anticipated outcomes.
• Set realistic timelines and milestones to keep the project on track.

Define learning objectives

• Establish learning objectives that align with the student’s academic and professional goals.
• Identify skills and knowledge areas that the student should develop through the research process.

Provide research training

• Offer training sessions on research methodologies and tools relevant to the project.
• Introduce the student to ethical considerations and guidelines in research.

Communicate regularly

• Schedule regular meetings to discuss progress and goals.
• Create a supportive environment for the student to share ideas.

Encourage independent thinking

• Foster the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Empower the student to take ownership of the project and make independent decisions.

Provide networking opportunities

• Introduce the student to relevant professional networks and research communities.
• Encourage participation at seminars, workshops and conferences to broaden the student's understanding of the field.

Provide constructive feedback

• Offer feedback that will help the student develop research proposals, methodologies and findings.
• Guide the student in refining work.

Celebrate achievements

• Acknowledge milestones and achievements.
• Provide a positive and motivating environment to help build the student's confidence.

Promote collaboration

• Foster interaction with other researchers.
• Encourage the student to engage in interdisciplinary discussions and collaborative projects.

Support professional development

• Assist the student in preparing research presentations, posters and papers for conferences or publications.
• Offer guidance on crafting a strong curriculum vitae and pursuing further academic or professional opportunities.

Address challenges and make adjustments

• Provide guidance on overcoming setbacks. These are opportunities to adapt during the research process.
• Regularly reflect on the mentoring process and be willing to adjust strategies based on the student's evolving needs.