Mentoring tertiary students from a secondary school incubator programme focusing on health careers: Findings from a New Zealand study. (10th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crawford, Ruth; Monson, Kathy; Searle, Judy
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied research in higher education. Volume 8:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 424
• Page End: 438
• Publication Date: 2016-10-10
• Subjects: Mentoring -- Health professionals -- Career planning -- Programme Incubator -- Tertiary education; Education, Higher -- Research -- Periodicals; Education, Higher -- Research -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 378.00711
• DOI: 10.1108/JARHE-02-2015-0012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7003

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: Developing the health workforce is an ongoing concern, especially in New Zealand, where Māori and Pasifika populations are under-represented. Programme Incubator (PI) was developed by a health provider to raise awareness of careers in the health sector. The purpose of this paper is to report on a study undertaken in a tertiary institution which involved tracking and mentoring students who had been engaged in PI, and mentoring them through their tertiary studies. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 40 students ( n =40) were recruited into the four year study, which involved a survey and participating in focus groups. Findings: PI was found to be an effective initiative of encouraging secondary students to enter a career in health, but more work is needed to facilitate students' choice of tertiary provider and academic programme. Within the tertiary sector, mentoring was found to be lacking. Originality/value: Group mentoring and peer mentoring are introduced to mitigate these concerns and provide students with the mentoring support they require.