MENTORING. What can support projects achieve that schools cannot?

Mentoring and coaching is an established practice in corporate multinational firms worldwide, but mentoring programs for school pupils are still relatively new in Europe. This policy brief highlights a special kind of mentor: students in higher education with an immigrant background who can act as role models and coaches for younger students, often playing the part of an older sibling, and ultimately aiding mentees with core learning issues. The policy brief argues that mentoring should become an integral part of the educational support system for disadvantaged children of immigrants. It shows how mentors can offer specific and personalised support, using methods that have been proven to improve the cognitive gains, self-esteem, and self-reliance of their mentees