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M U T

S P I R I T

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J A N U A R Y - M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Students participate in group discussion during Peer Helper

training

There is no denying the value of Peer Helpers,

especially in the context of universities. A quick search

on Google reveals the popularity of this approach in

universities across the world. Mangosuthu University

of Technology is no exception. Every year, the Student

Counselling Unit within the Student Affairs Department

welcomes a cohort of students who serve as Peer

Helpers, extending the Unit’s reach to fellow students

across the University and its residences. It is this

ability to connect with fellow students in a way that

staff cannot, that makes Peer Helpers an important

part of the Student Counselling Unit. At MUT the

Peer-Help Programme (PHP) is a student volunteer

programme initiative.

MUT Student Counsellor, Lungi Mkhize, is the co-

ordinator of the PHP and is passionate about student

development and peer helping. “At the end of every

year, we embark on a recruitment drive for the following

year’s Peer Helpers,” explained Mkhize. “Recruitment

for the 2020 Peer Helper Programme began at the end

of 2019 and concluded in February 2020.”

Only registered MUT students who are in their second

to fourth year of study are eligible to apply, as per the

advertisements on posters across campus and on

official MUT social media platforms.

“We look for students who can set good examples and

influence their peers positively,” said Mkhize. “These

are students who are passionate about people and

helping others, who are motivated and enthusiastic,

who have good listening and interpersonal skills, who

have a good academic record, and who are interested

in community work.”

This year, the Unit formally inducted 71 Peer Helpers

into the programme and took them through the first

phase of compulsory training on 29 February, which

laid the foundation for the work that will be expected

in the duration of their time with the Unit. The training

focused on introducing students to the concept of Peer

Helping; the qualities of a Peer Helper; ethics, values

and principles of Peer Helping (confidentiality, code of

conduct, professionalism, branding); standard working

procedures; communication skills; listening skills;

empathy; facilitation skills; and Emotional Intelligence.

The content of this training is revised annually to

accommodate Peer Helper needs, challenges, and

emerging patterns and trends amongst the student

community that require additional skills development

and knowledge acquisition.

“Peer Helper training is a critical component of the

Peer Helper Programme as students often seek help

from peers when they have personal problems,” said

Mkhize. “The Programme contributes to Goal 5 of

the MUT Strategic Plan 2025: To create an enabling

support environment.”

Future training programmes will follow later in the

semester to further capacitate Peer Helpers to fulfil

their mandate in accordance with their roles.

Student Counselling welcomes the 2020 Peer Helpers