Community Services, Mentoring, and Student Motivation at The University Level: A Mixed-Methods Study of the Mediating Role of Mentoring

Abstract

Community services by students in the contemporary higher learning institutions is a very crucial aspect in the development of a well-balanced individual. This research examined the relationship between community services and motivation of university students, especially focusing on the mediating effect of mentoring in six public sector universities of upper, lower, and central Punjab regions of Pakistan. Quantitative phase of study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to collect data from 900 students across six universities of Punjab, Pakistan using a seven-point Likert questionnaire measuring community service, academic motivation, and mentoring and investigated through descriptive statistics and PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation) Modelling. In the qualitative phase, data was gathered from semi-structured interviews with 15 students and analyzed thematically. Results indicated positive attitudes toward community service but low participation, moderate overall motivation, and high perceived mentoring quality. Service-learning emerged as the strongest predictor, and mentoring significantly mediated the impact of community service on career, altruistic, and self-exploratory motivations. Regional variations were also noted. The results confirm that mentoring functions as a genuine but selective mediating path but it shaped and influenced by regional variations and cultural environments. These results make a strong contribution to the educational policy and practice in terms of providing them with strategies of encouraging motivation and participation among students driven by the increased mentoring and community involvement.