Engineering Leadership Through Peer Mentoring by High-Performing Students as Catalysts for Academic Success

Abstract

Abstract—The integration of peer mentoring into engineering academic programs as a mechanism to support students facing academic difficulties has received considerable attention in higher education worldwide, particularly in developed countries. This study employed a mixed-methods review approach to examine the benefits of peer mentoring through a program implemented by high-achieving engineering students. The study's findings underscore the significance of implementing peer mentoring as a support framework for students grappling with critical challenges, owing to its manifold advantages. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of ascertaining the diverse factors that contribute to the efficacy of peer mentoring programs. The Peer Mentoring of Excellence (PME) Program has demonstrated a consistent track record of maintaining satisfaction rates in excess of 90%. The study's findings indicate that collaborative learning with peers fosters an environment conducive to learning, thereby enhancing students' knowledge and skills. In a similar vein, students who act as mentors have attested to the development of leadership, communication, and assertiveness skills that has resulted from their engagement in the program. Furthermore, these students have noted that their participation serves to reinforce the knowledge they have acquired.