DEVELOPMENT OF A MENTORING APPROACH FOR ENHANCING STUDENT RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES OF JINAN, SHANDONG PROVINCE, CHINA

This study aimed to develop a mentoring approach for enhancing student relational leadership in private universities in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. This study employed a mixed-methods approach. The sample consisted of 422 students from six different private universities in Jinan. The result showed that the general level of student relational leadership in private universities in Jinan was high; nevertheless, there was still room to enhance. Based on the quantitative analysis results, the mentoring activities encompassed four significant elements: mentoring for leadership empowerment, mentoring for psychological and emotional support, peer mentoring, and e-mentoring. We developed the mentoring approach based on student relational leadership and effective mentoring activities. Shandong Yingcai University applied it to 97 students. The finding indicated that there was a significant difference before and after implementing the mentoring approach. We recommended the mentoring approach to the private universities in Jinan to foster student relational leadership.