A1 Journal article (refereed)
Multidisciplinary peer-mentoring groups facilitating change? : a critical educational praxis perspective (2020)

Aarnikoivu, M., Pennanen, M., Kiili, J., & Nokkala, T. (2020). Multidisciplinary peer-mentoring groups facilitating change? : a critical educational praxis perspective. Learning and Teaching, 13(3), 18-40. https://doi.org/10.3167/latiss.2020.130303

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Aarnikoivu, Melina; Pennanen, Matti; Kiili, Johanna; Nokkala, Terhi

Journal or series: Learning and Teaching

ISSN: 1755-2273

eISSN: 1755-2281

Publication year: 2020

Publication date: 01/12/2020

Volume: 13

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 18-40

Publisher: Berghahn Books

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3167/latiss.2020.130303

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/72808

Abstract

This article discusses the potential of multidisciplinary peer-mentoring groups to facilitate individual and institutional change. To do this, we view peer mentoring as a form of critical education praxis (Mahon et al. 2019), the purpose of which is to create a space for reflexive thinking and asking critical questions. The data were collected by interviewing all thirteen participants – doctoral students and more established scholars – of a multidisciplinary peer-mentoring pilot project. The results show a variety of both individual changes and desired changes within the university, which were brought into view as a result of the sharing of experiences, views and ideas in an open, confidential, multidisciplinary space. Based on these results, we argue that multidisciplinary peer mentoring has a high potential to offer an excellent space for collaborative, critical dialogue, which could ultimately facilitate change among individual academics, but also potentially more widely within higher education institutions.

Keywords: doctoral education; multidisciplinary research; peer learning; critical pedagogy; pedagogy of higher education; practice

Free keywords: academic work; doctoral education; educational praxis; multidisciplinarity; peer learning; peer mentoring

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1