The role of mentoring programme coordinator: professional development meta-facilitator?

Abstract

This paper addresses an under-researched role in the professional development in education and mentoring in education literature, that of the mentoring programme coordinator. It draws on a multi-method study which includes a review of international research literature and a secondary analysis of existing datasets. The findings synthesise the sparse empirical research on mentoring programme coordinators by identifying key responsibilities associated with the role, together with factors which enhance and impede effective mentoring programme coordination. The findings are discussed in relation to the growing body of literature on professional development facilitators, and it is suggested that mentoring programme coordinators exemplify an original category of professional development meta-facilitators. Implications of the study for policy, practice and further research are presented, including research-informed recommendations for mentoring programme providers and organisational leadership teams who wish to enhance mentoring programme coordination, with a view to strengthening the impact of mentoring programmes and the professional learning and development of the educators such programmes support.