Job Title: / Student Mentor
Reporting to: / GCU Mentoring Staff
Rate of Pay: / £7.65 per hour
Contact: /
Application: / Please complete the student mentor application form, which is available to download from our website:
You can submit your application by email to: quoting ‘Student Mentor Application’ in the subject field, or by bringing it to room H210 in the William Harley Building.
Please note that the closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Thursday 25thSeptember.
Main Purpose of the Role: / To act as a role model and assist with the delivery ofGlasgow Caledonian University mentoring activities.
Overview of theMentoring Role: / Mentoring at Glasgow Caledonian University has a long-term vision to facilitate true social change in the communities the University serves. We work with children, young people, college HN students and families to raise life-long learning aspirations and equip them with key life skills. We achieve this by offering targeted activities delivered by staff and students from GCU. We have five strands of mentoring: Caledonian Club;Schools & Colleges Engagement Transition Team (SCETT); MAPS and the Advanced Higher Hub. Student Mentors are key to the work of each team.
Glasgow Caledonian University Mentors:
/ Working as a Student Mentor will allow you to play an active role in the university, develop skills to improve your future employment prospects and meet and work with other GCU students from a variety of disciplines. The role also offers you the opportunity to earn money in a part-time job with the flexibility to fit around your studies. You will also be eligible to enrol on GCU’s Student Leaders Programme.Person Specification
Education /- Students must be registered on an undergraduate GCU programme.
Experience /
- Experience of working in support environments (paid or voluntary) would be advantageous, however full training is given prior to participation.
- We aim to recruit students from a wide variety of entry routes into Higher Education and are particularly (though not exclusively) keen to recruit mentors either from GOALS/FOCUS West schools, Caledonian Club or SCETT schools, Advanced Higher Hub schools and target colleges, so they can return to their former schoolsor collegesas role models.
Knowledge /
- Knowledge of the GCU campus is essential.
- An understanding of the UK education system is essential.
- Appreciation of widening access initiatives is expected.
- We aim to recruit students from a variety of schools and departments across the University, who can apply their knowledge to the mentoring activities and act as ambassadors for GCU. In addition to our general mentors, we are also interested in students with expertise in dietetics, music, drama or art, and those with experience of articulating into university from college so please make this clear on your application.
Skills, Abilities &Competencies /
- Possess a genuine interest in making a positive contribution to the lives of people and can act as a role model for them.
- Reliable and motivated.
- Sociable and enthusiastic.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to work as a member of a team.
- Ability to communicate with people of all ages.
Additional Requirements /
- Students should have access to the internet, an e-mail address and ideally a mobile phone, in order to sign up to activities and keep in touch with the Mentoring staff and other students.
- Students should be prepared to travel to local schools and colleges alongside mentoring staff.
Appointment
/ If successful at group interview stage, any appointment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a PVG member check. In addition, all students must participate in skills training for the various elements of the programme and associated focus groups to enable the mentoring projects at Glasgow Caledonian Universityto grow and develop.Summary of Mentoring Activities
As a Student Mentor, you will be given appropriate training and take part in some or all of the following activities alongside mentoring staff and subject experts.Caledonian Club / The Caledonian Club is GCU’s widening participation and community engagement initiative. The project aims to raise the educational aspirations of its members, building key life skills and confidence in nursery, primary and secondary pupils as well as parents and family members, from the communities on the University’s doorstep.
Working throughout their educational journey, pupils will experience Club activities in-school and on-campus at GCU to assist them in making informed choices for their future. Facilitated by Club staff, the mentor’s role is centred on supporting groups of pupils to complete a wide range of activities in an enthusiastic and engaging manner, providing support and guidance throughout.
Mentors interested in working with the Caledonian Club will have the opportunity work with pupils from as young as 4yrs right up to 18yrs but can select a preferred age group. Each group has activities tailored to them that require distinct approaches in areas such as communication, and leadership.
SCETT / The Schools and Colleges Engagement Transition Team (SCETT) delivers activity to local schools and target colleges. The aim of SCETT is to provide timely, relevant, and focused interventions and support to ensure that secondary senior school pupils and college students applying to GCU have the resources and potential to gain the maximum benefit from their university studies.
Early engagement with students whilst still at school or college will also facilitate the raising of aspirations and help ensure that GCU is the first choice university for UCAS applications. Activity is delivered in six Glasgow secondary schools, West of Scotland colleges and on GCU’s campus and is facilitated by SCETT staff and student mentors.
For further information email or visit:
MAPS / GCU’s new Mentoring and Peer Support Service (MAPS).
The transition to university is not always a smooth one - new students in particular can sometimes come up against a number of challenges as they adapt to a new environment, new people, and new ways of doing things which may be very different from school or college.
MAPS Peer Mentors can help students adapt and engage with their new environment by offering a point of contact, a friendly ear, re-assurance, information and advice. Most importantly, they can help in the early identification of issues that might impact on a student’s studies and ensure timely support through early signposting to appropriate staff, services and information.
For further information visit or e-mail
Advanced Higher Hub / The Advanced Higher Hub was created to deliver a selection of Advanced Higher courses to S6 pupils from partner Glasgow schools. The objectives of the Hub are to support the needs of young people across the city by providing access to a range of Advanced Highers, taught within a HE learning environment.
Pupils may undertake one, two or three Advanced Highers dependent on their needs and career aspirations, and they will be supported by teachers, Hub staff and student mentors. Pupils will be Associate Students of GCU and will have access to all GCU facilities, providing an authentic student experience.
For further information visit