International and National Models and Practices in the Field of Mentoring

Abstract

Mentorship is globally recognized as a corner stone in enhancing the quality of human resources in education. An analysis of European models and international trends in the field of mentorship reveals that it provides a relevant response to the global crisis in the teaching profession; contributes to improving teacher retention and the attractiveness of the profession; supports the professionalization of the teaching career; fosters the development of teachers’ professional competences, including collaboration, critical thinking, and reflection; assists novice teachers in the process of professional integration and mitigates professional shock; enhances pedagogical reflection and facilitates the implementation of action research; nurtures a collaborative culture and communities of educational best practice and demonstrates a measurable impact on the quality of education. The arguments regarding the value and identity of mentorship within European education systems are articulated in this article.

Keywords: mentoring, mentor, mentee, professional induction, reflection, professionalisation.