Mentors’ and Mentees’ Experiences in a Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Programme: A Phenomenological Study in a Public University in China

Abstract

This phenomenological study explores the experiences of mentors and mentees in a Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education (SFCE) programme at a public university in China. Since the implementation of the SFCE programme in 2015, no study has been conducted to investigate the experience of mentors and mentees. Using purposive sampling, data were collected through in-depth interviews and classroom observations with six mentors and six mentees, who were selected from a public university in China. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach, from which five major themes emerged. The findings highlight the benefits of the SFCE programme for participants, especially for mentees. However, mentors and mentees also faced challenges related to cultural differences and effective mentoring relationships in teaching assessment, teaching style, and management. The facilities and educational resources also require further improvement to ensure the effective implementation of the SFCE programme, and, notably, mentors do not share enough educational resources with mentees. The programme schedule was intensive for mentors and mentees and, thus, needs to be adjusted to improve the SFCE programme. The study concludes with recommendations for both the foreign and Chinese universities that participated in the SFCE programme, to set up a Programme Management Committee to improve communication, to encourage building up better mentoring relationships, and to create a supportive training environment.