| Institution: | University of Bologna |
| Name of the tool: | Peer mentors (remunerated) |
| Key actors: | Students with special needs Students Teachers Managers Support office |
| State of the tool: | Consolidated |
| Student's areas involved: | Travelling to university Attending lessons Studying Having an exam and practical course/internship Dealing with professor and administrative staff Relation with supporting staff Peers relations Social life |
| Description of the tool: |
Every academic year, the Service publishes a call for a limited number of peer mentors open to all schools (faculties). It is about university students actually enrolled at university willing to support students with disability in their learning activities and tasks, like studying together, taking notes at lessons, reaching university's venues, etc. Peer mentors act at the same time as important facilitators for the socialization of their disabled peers and for construction around them of a supporting network. The mentors are paid with a maximum grant of 1,5 thousand euros, according to the number of hours actually worked.
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| User manual: |
The tool should be locally evaluated and structured according to the local configurations and settings. Compared with the voluntary forms of mentorship, this remunerated version ensures a more constant and reliable action and presence by mentors, as far as their engagement is ruled by a professional contract of work. It is essential to provide mentors an essential training at the very beginning of their activities, about disability, inclusion and dealing with special needs. It is as well required to establish since the beginning of their activities, a constant and fluent contact and dialogue between mentors and professionals of the Office for disabled students, in order to continuously monitor students' needs and developments and to optimize mentors' support and experience. Finally, it is advisable a strong support of mentors at the beginning of the academic career of the student (in order to facilitate and control the "impact" of accessing the world of university) and a progressive reduction of their presence, to promote and enhance the student's autonomy and resources. |