Mentoring and Learning Communities at DMU
Not all of your learning at De Montfort will be the formal learning you get from your course of study or area of research. As a broad and inclusive learning community, the university also provides avenues for learning that are not based on any formal curriculum, but from interacting with your peers – your fellow students, researchers, and staff. See below for some of the opportunities on offer to learn from one another.
De Montfort University is itself part of an even broader community, so if you are interested in DMU’s wider community engagement activities, visit the DMU Community website.
Mentoring for All At DMU we believe mentoring plays an important role in student learning and development. Mentoring can be used to respond to different levels of student need and it can help to address any challenges students might face whilst at university. Mentoring has the potential to enhance the student experience and ultimately student success. There are five main mentoring offers available to students at DMU, depending on what you need, and what stage you are at in your learning journey. Inside Edge Mentoring, iBuddies (International Student buddies), Peer Mentoring on your course of study, Dare to Be Mentoring, and DSU’s Social Collective scheme (formerly MyUniPal) all offer different approaches to the mentoring experience. Go to the Mentoring for All website for more detailed information on each of the schemes.
A range of groups focusing on writing, reading, and other aspects of academic work have been convened, with participation depending largely on your level of study. Together they comprise the DMU Writing Community. The Writing Group for Research Students (open to postgraduate research students) meets monthly to discuss various aspects of writing at doctoral level; the Writing Circle (open to postgraduate research students and DMU staff, professional and academic) meets regularly to share writing experiences and provide a dedicated space/time to write; the Postgraduate Group Online (open to taught postgraduates, postgraduate research students and DMU staff involved with postgraduate teaching) meets monthly and aims to provide an interdisciplinary space to discuss academic practices including writing and reading; and the 500 Word Club (open to all students) meets weekly to get writing done in a supportive space. Other groups are under development, and if you have a particular interest or idea for a writing or reading group, please get in touch.
The aim of the Drawing Centre (DC) is: the development of students’ visual learning and communication (look, see, record); using drawing to explore ideas in visually based programmes and providing a host location (physical/virtual) for developing artists to engage with their creativity.
De Montfort Student’s Union (DSU) provides support for a range of student clubs and societies, including academically-focused learning communities. Visit the DMU Activities website for information on what is available, and remember that you can work with your union to establish a new group to meet your needs if you so wish.
Staff can get involved with current learning communities such as Dare to Be Mentoring, Peer Mentoring and the Writing Circle as well as creating learning communities of your own for students in your faculty or on a particular programme of study.
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