Demonstrate skills of critical reflection through undertaking an analysis and evaluation of institutional mentoring practices.
Documentary “Don’t tell the king…”
The documentary to accompany this part of the work is on the DVD. Shot entirely on location in Thailand it is critical reflection of institutional mentoring practices in Thailand. It is worth mentioning here that the theoretical underpinning for this documentary was Zachary (2005) who produced a mini assessment tool for an organisation.
‘In today's competitive business climate, the need for continuous learning has never been greater. Combine this with employees’ desire to feel connected and to develop deep personal relationships and the stage is set for establishing a mentoring culture.’ Zachary (2005). I used this tool as the bench mark. Looking at Buddhist culture and mentoring culture within two schools that I had the opportunity to visit. Zachary (2005) isolated 10 separate points that could be audited when looking at an institution;
Mentoring Culture Audit
1. Learning is an established organisation priority
2. An adequate budget and explicit financial commitment supports organisation mentoring
3. Roles, responsibilities and expectations of Mentors, Mentees, and other individuals who interact with and support mentoring relationships, are defined and aligned with each other.
4. The purpose, scope and benefits of mentoring are well articulated and linked to results
5. The shared vocabulary of mentoring practice is consistent throughout the organization
6. Excellence in mentoring is recognized and/or rewarded and celebrated
7. There is a positive ‘buzz’ about mentoring in the organisation.
8. Mentoring coaching and information is available at point of need to support individuals engaged in mentoring relationships
9. Training and education are provided for individuals who are at different levels of mentoring readiness
10. Confidentiality of those engaged in mentoring relationships is safeguarded.
These were the 10 points that I tried to engage with when I was in Thailand. In the documentary I begin to make the distinction between a mentoring culture and a Culture of mentoring. This is essentially the difference between mentoring in a UK high school and a Thai high school. Zachary describes and institutional environment where mentoring is fostered, but in the documentary I evaluate a culture that fosters mentoring through its agencies of social control. There is very little work done in this area, some in the range of psychology. There does seem to be a general prejudice between developed cultures using the Telemachus/ Mentor origins of mentoring and a more holistic Eastern philosophy of mentoring. In the documentary I explore these cultural differences that may impact mentoring and try to highlight an area with very little research or academic exploration.
The Eurocentric nature of the discussion so far does these cultures that have embedded mentoring practices within their key institutions a real disservice and leaves a gap in our knowledge when we explore institutional models of mentoring. When I conducted Zacharys (2005) Mentoring Culture Audit in Thailand I could rate each of the ten points as always being conducted.
The documentary was written, filmed, narrated and direct by me. At one point I do get a colleague to ask question for me, but the line of questioning was predetermined.
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