Any support provided to a young person or novice (someone joining a new learning community or organisation) by an experienced person who acts as a role model, guide, tutor, coach or confidante.
Comment
- In lifelong guidance, mentoring covers various activities:
- education and training, to help individuals take educational, vocational decisions and carry them out before and after they enter the labour market;
- lifelong guidance, to assist individuals to explore, pursue and attain their career goals;
- personal development, to help individuals manage their life paths;
- this term is close to, but not synonymous with: tutoring.
Source
Bolton, 1980; Cedefop.