Abstract Book of the 9th World Conference on Future of Education
Year: 2025
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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Film Mentorship within a Higher Education, Film School Program:An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods, Grounded Theory Study
Dr. Kalman Szegvary
ABSTRACT:
This study examined the effectiveness of film mentorship in a higher education film school program and its influence on students’ success as collaborative leaders during their capstone film projects. The research aimed to provide insights for educators and administrators to enhance leadership education in film production. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the study comprised two phases. The quantitative phase involved pre-test and post-test surveys administered to an experimental group of fifty film students who received faculty mentorship, compared to a control group of fifty students without mentorship. These surveys evaluated the impact of mentorship on students’ learning and self-efficacy. The qualitative phase included semi-structured interviews with eight students (four mentored and four not mentored) and four faculty mentors, along with a focus group to confirm emerging themes such as Communication, Connection, Relationships, and Mentorship Practices. Findings indicated that mentorship positively affected students’ filmmaking skills, enhancing their capability, connectedness, purpose, resourcefulness, and filmmaking culture. Both mentees and mentors expressed similar positive views on the mentorship’s effectiveness. The study proposed several recommendations to improve the film mentoring program, including effective communication strategies, fostering strong relationships, customizing mentorship practices, emphasizing gestalt coaching techniques, supporting diversity, promoting cooperative learning, developing mentorship curricula, and providing ongoing professional development for mentors. These recommendations aim to enhance the effectiveness of film mentorship programs and improve career prospects for student filmmakers.
Keywords: Film Mentorship, Higher Education, Mixed-Methods, Capstone Projects, Leadership Education