“I am not any Greater than you are” Cultivation of Humility in Higher Education through Mentoring

Abstract This study investigated the experiences of college-student mentors to gain a nuanced understanding of ‘humility’ in higher education (HE) and to illuminate how it operates within mentoring dyads. Seventeen mentors, comprising both undergraduate (9) and graduate (8) students, were interviewed in this exploratory qualitative research. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were employed as the primary method of data collection. The analysis followed a deductive approach guided by the HEXACO (Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness) personality framework. While the mentors’ narratives are situated within the Indian context, the study appraises implications for the broader landscape of HE. The investigation shows that mentors viewed humility as essential. They demonstrated it by reflecting on their own humility, adjusting their behavior to guide mentees toward program goals effectively, and navigating relationships in a socio-culturally humble manner. Additionally, humility was also found to be instrumental in resolving conflicts and enhancing the quality of mentorship. The study fills a critical gap in HE and mentoring literature and underscores the role of humility in fostering generativity and socially responsible leadership among college-student mentors. The outcome also encourages HE institutions to leverage mentoring programs to cultivate humility in their students, preparing them holistically for the professional world by integrating personal growth with technical expertise.