The Perspectives of Science and Engineering Master’s Students on the Mentoring Relationship

• Main Authors: Yii-Nii Lin, Angela Yi-ping Hsu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Brookes University 2013-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring
• Subjects: Supervising relationship; Mentoring relationship; Advisor-advisee relationship
• Online Access: https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/6d6ede80-c9f4-456d-a405-564d7684d731/1/vol11issue1-paper-08.pdf

The purpose of this paper is to describe the experiences of Taiwanese science/engineering master's students interacting with their mentors/advisors. The study used the qualitative method of phenomenology and involved sixteen master's students from a research-oriented university in Taiwan, which is a male dominated culture and values hierarchical status. The findings reveal that to avoid conflict with their advisors and to survive in a power difference structure, the participants chose to adjust themselves. A good counselling programme which helps advisees to choose advisors, along with a supportive advisor-changing system, therefore, is encouraged. Peer monitoring and a vice-advisor system are advised as well.