Mentor-tutor system
This page provides more information about the mentor-tutor system at Leiden University. What is it? What are its objectives? Where can mentors, tutors, and coordinators find more information and teaching materials?
About the mentor-tutor system
The mentor-tutor system supports first-year students during the initial period of their studies. The central focus of this system is the academic success and well-being of first-year students. Each faculty has its own coordinators for this system. Through small-scale inclusive meetings supervised by a student mentor (and sometimes a lecturer tutor), the system offers flexible support tailored to student needs at each faculty. Each faculty has its own coordinators. Within the university, various terms are used to designate these roles; please refer to the PDF definitions of the mentor-tutor system.
Objectives of the mentor-tutor system
The university believes it is important that first-year students are well supported within their study programme and that they feel at home. The mentor-tutor system focuses on initial introduction, social connection, and finding your way around the University. The system has been developed into a programme based on three pillars: ‘connection’, ‘personal development’, and ‘finding your way’. In addition to this programme, a study programme can supplement the mentoring programme with programme-specific themes.
- Connection: Familiarising students with the world of the university, the study programme, and their fellow students
- Personal development: Developing academic and intrapersonal skills and providing future prospects
- Finding your way: Offering a small-scale, safe setting in which students can find their way within the study programme, the university systems, and additional support
The themes of connection, personal development, and finding your way have been translated into 15 learning objectives, which have been compiled in a self-check list. Based on this framework, a study programme can determine the extent to which all objectives and their associated components are adequately covered in the study programme. In addition, competency profiles are available for student mentors and lecturer tutors.
Those involved in the mentor-tutor system
There are various target groups that play a role in the mentor-tutor system. Digital environments are available for each of these target groups, with teaching materials and relevant training programmes. All these materials can be used to shape the mentoring programme. Below, you can click through to more information about the relevant offerings for each target group.
I coordinate the mentoring programme
I am a lecturer tutor
I am a student mentor
More information
If you have any questions about the mentor-tutor system within your faculty, please contact your faculty mentoring coordinator. For any other questions, please contact us at mentoraat@sea.leidenuniv.nl.