LAMPPreliminary Evaluation of LAMP 2008

Dr. Peter Woods

Prof. Michelle Barker

Dr. Ray Hibbins

Griffith University 3rd December, 2008

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Objectives

• Thank you our colleagues who made LAMP ‘happen’

• Review the current evaluation of the LAMP program

• Identify areas for improving the program in 2009

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Background• ‘Local Aussie Mentoring Partnership’ (LAMP) developed in

response to needs of students identified in the GU results of the University-wide International Student Barometer (ISB)

• Team – (GBS) Dr. Peter Woods, Prof. Michelle Barker, Dr. Ray Hibbins, Dr. Arthur Poropat along with Prof. Sally Borbasi from the School of Nursing and Midwifery

• Project co-ordinator Ruth Hills• Sponsored by PVC International, Chris Madden and the GBS

Dean, Teaching and Learning, Prof. Lorelle Frazer

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ProblemInternational Student Barometer (ISB) a measure of student

satisfaction indicated:• international students’ feelings of isolation• difficulty understanding and using colloquial language• minimal interaction between domestic students and international

students. • The LAMP program also aimed to address the problem of local

students failing to gain the benefit of interacting with international students

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Implementation• Trained all 180 students at the Gold Coast and Nathan

campuses undertaking the management course HR Training and Development (MGT2012) as mentors

• At Nathan campus, the mentors were linked with students at QIBT who were preparing to enter the GBS in 2009

• At the Gold Coast campus, mentors linked with students (mainly international) enrolled in the first year management course, Management Concepts (1001MGT)

• The mentors met with their mentees on three occasions and assisted them with orientation to Griffith resources, services and adjustment strategies that they had found helpful

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Evaluation• Initial indications are that the program proved beneficial to both

local and international students• Local students indicated that they gained empathy for

international students• International students indicated that they benefitted from learning

about Griffith University. • Majority of mentors spent more than 3 hours expected.• 6 mentors spent more than 10 hours (1 > 24hrs). Median number

of meetings was 3, and a sizable minority reported more meetings.

• Many comments from both mentors and mentees echoed this desire for LAMP to be longer.

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Student Comments• A new friend made (Mentee)• If the mentoring process can take longer, then it would be

better Mentor comment • Meet more times and talk more Mentor• Maybe more activities in peer-mentoring program: Mentee

comment• This is not mentoring program to me. It is just assignment for

them. That’s nothing to me and my mentor. (Disappointed mentee)

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Mentor Comments• I have gained how to actually mentor someone, and understand the knowledge

and experience which I got in my first year could be very helpful for new students.

• It was innovative & fun;

• I enjoyed it a lot. It became more than an essay for me. Gave me confidence. I think I was very lucky with my mentee too

• Gained empowerment & confidence that I actually know something.

• Better understanding of being out of my comfort zone.

• Gave me a chance to critically reflect on myself.

• Gained empathy for international students Australian Mentor

• She did not show up to any, was not interested in participating. (Frustrated mentor whose mentee dropped out)

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Mentee Comments

• Not suitable this program for me. (Comment by mentee who dropped out of program)

• I am not going to drop it. It’s fun knowing new people and doing extra work. (Enthusiastic mentee)

• I wish he was more helpful.

(Mentee describing disappointment)

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Mentee Comments• It should be performed frequently Mentee comment• Gained empathy for international students Australian Mentor • To meet different people from different cultures and share

experiences , Mentee commenting on benefits of LAMP• Good, it’s better to new students to improve their skill. Mentee

comment• Learn more to deal with a new person. Mentee describing benefits

of LAMP• Improve English: Mentee benefit• I learnt a lot and there wasn’t anything that I wanted to learn that I

did not. (Australian student, mentored by student from another culture)

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Recommendations

• Reflect on and write-up learnings from the intervention (presentations, publications)

• Examine whether there is interest in continuing the program for mentors and mentees and determine feasibility

• Determine the most cost-effective way to offer the program

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Conclusion• An innovation that has merit• Grows out of a lineage of mentoring programs at

Griffith University• Publish results and learnings• “Procedures manual” important part of making the

program sustainable/course portable• Funding by GBS and Griffith International

acknowledged with thanks