A Helping Hand: Faculty’s Perceptions of Coaching and Mentoring in Pakistani HEIs

Abstract

In an era of innovative technology and demand for students to be exemplary candidates for employment, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) face the challenge of preparing their students academically, psychosocially, and professionally for the labour market. As a result, the faculty stands as the main source of guidance towards achieving the required level of holistic development. This study explores the perception of coaching and mentoring in Pakistani HEIs from the perspective of faculty, specifically, the current state of coaching and mentoring in Pakistani HEIs, how faculty provide coaching and mentoring, the challenges they face, and the recommendations they would provide. A sample of 4 faculty members from HEIs in Islamabad from the STEAM fields was selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data and were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The findings revealed that while faculty are always available to coach and mentor their students, they face challenges that prevent them from guiding their students to their full potential. Based on the findings, the study also proposes recommendations to enable faculty to engage in these practices more meaningfully.