Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: One of the important challenges at the Universities of Medical Sciences is the
mentorship of postgraduate students’ academic theses. Since 2015, the Research Mentorship
Program (RMP) has been implemented with the aim of improving research knowledge and skill,
thesis quality, and quantity and quality of papers of emerging from postgraduate students’ theses.
METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study with census sampling method (nonprobability
sampling), completed between 2015 and 2018. Twenty‑eight postgraduate students participated in
the program. Each trainee student is done during the research period through the supervisor and
another student in a higher level of education as mentor. Questionnaire with open‑ended questions
and checklist was used for data gathering. For statistical analysis, Chi‑square test was used.
RESULTS: 100% of the mentors and 93% of the mentee participated at the Research Mentorship
Program were satisfied. In addition, the duration of the research course for the master’s students
participated in the RMP was reduced. Participants in this program had higher quantity and quality of
papers resulting from postgraduate student’s academic theses. RMP can enhance the postgraduate
students’ knowledge and skills in their research projects and research methods, develop personal
and professional relationships, and promote interpersonal communication as a student or mentor.
CONCLUSION: This program and its similar programs can improve the quality of postgraduate
students’ academic theses and reduce their research period.
Keywords
Postgraduate Students in Tanzanian Higher Learning Institutions;
2016.
2. Bair CR, Haworth JG. Doctoral student attrition and persistence:
A meta‑synthesis of research. Higher education: Handbook of
theory and research: Springer; 2004. p. 481‑534.
3. Matin MA, Khan MA. Common problems faced by postgraduate
students during their thesis works in Bangladesh. Bangladesh J
Med Educ 2017;8:22‑7.
4. Colvin JW, Ashman M. Roles, risks, and benefits of peer
mentoring relationships in higher education. Mentor Tutoring
2010;18:121‑34.
5. Agu N, Odimegwu CO. Doctoral dissertation supervision:
Identification and evaluation of models. Educ Res Int 2014;2014:
ID 790750
6. Donnelly R, Fitzmaurice M. Resource Pack on Supervising
Postgraduate Students; 2017.
7. Wadesango N, Machingambi S. Post graduate Students’
Experiences with Research Supervisors. J Sociol Soc Anthropol
2011;2:31‑7.
8. Yousefi A, Bazrafkan L, Yamani N. A qualitative inquiry into the
challenges and complexities of research supervision: Viewpoints
of postgraduate students and faculty members. J Adv Med Educ
Prof 2015;3:91‑8.
9. Budge S. Peer mentoring in postsecondary education: Implications
for research and practice. J Coll Read Learn 2006;37:71‑85.
10. Nottingham SL, Mazerolle SM, Barrett JL. Promising and
established investigators’ experiences participating in the national
athletic trainers’ association foundation research mentor program.
J Athl Train 2017;52:368‑76.
11. Hollingsworth MA, Fassinger RE. The role of faculty mentors in
the research training of counseling psychology doctoral students.
J Couns Psychol 2002;49:324.
12. Horowitz J, Christopher KB. The research mentoring program:
Serving the needs of graduate and undergraduate researchers.
Innov High Educ 2013;38:105‑16.
13. Kiersma ME, Hagemeier N, Chen AM, Melton B, Noureldin M,
Plake KS. A graduate student mentoring program to develop
interest in research. Am J Pharm Educ 2012;76:104.
14. Kikpatrick D, Kikpatrick J. Kikpatrick four levels. Audio
recordings study guide. Kikpatrick Partners. First edition. 2013.
pag: 6‑14
15. Frye AW, Hemmer PA. Program evaluation models and related
theories: AMEE guide no 67. Med Teach 2012;34:e288‑99.
16. Hogan R, Fox D, Barratt‑See G. Peer to peer mentoring: Outcomes
of third‑year midwifery students mentoring first‑year students.
Women Birth 2017;30:206‑13.
17. Taylor JS, Faghri S, Aggarwal N, Zeller K, Dollase R, Reis SP.
Developing a peer‑mentor program for medical students. Teach
Learn Med 2013;25:97‑102.
18. Sambunjak D, Straus SE, Marusic A. A systematic review of
qualitative research on the meaning and characteristics of
mentoring in academic medicine. J Gen Intern Med 2010;25:72‑8.
)