Mentoring
Do you still remember how it felt to start your studies? What choices did you make during the studies? How did you balance between studying and spare time? How was it to submit your thesis or what did you write in your first job application in your own field?
The next mentoring programme of Turku UAS starts in October 2023. We are looking for alumni to forward their knowledge to future professionals. New students as well as graduating students entering the job market need your support. As a mentor, you strengthen your guidance skills, and you can show interest in developing your field in a CV.
The mentoring programme starting in the autumn is partially in English. The mentor and mentee (student) can decide, which language they use, but joint meetings are arranged in English. The programme is an opportunity to use and refresh your English skills.
The mentoring programme takes place from 12th October 2023 to 25th April 2024.
Apply as a mentor between 1 August – 30 September 2023!
Terminology
A mentor is a skilled and experienced professional who wants to support a mentee to move forward in studies/working life.
A mentee is a student who wants to develop themselves and wishes to get support from a mentor to move forward in studies/working life.
Mentorship is a relationship between the mentor and mentee, which is based on mutual openness, trust, and equality. Ideally, the mentorship strengthens the know-how of both parties.
Reciprocal strengthening
Mentoring is goal-oriented activity that aims to develop the mentee’s abilities and skills in studies and support them in the transition to working life. The mentor can boost their guidance skills and receive valuable information about the education trends of the field.
What does the mentor get?
Usually, the focus in mentoring is on the mentee’s benefits and support, but active mentorship also strengthens the mentor.
Mentoring offers a great possibility to improve interaction, language, and coaching skills. Through mentoring, the mentor can reflect their know-how and career development. In addition, active mentoring supports the mentor’s own work development and gives new ideas for the future.
Mentoring can also be a terrific addition to the CV.
What does the mentee get?
Mentoring offers a fantastic opportunity for the mentee to self-development and prepares for working life. Unlike in bigger group trainings and courses, mentoring focuses on an individual and specifically on what is important to the mentee.
Whether you are thinking about different fields of specialization in the beginning of the studies or taking your first steps towards working life, you can get personal support from an experienced professional and can discuss challenging and vulnerable topics in confidential mentorship.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is
- Sharing thoughts, experiences, and skills
- Learning and listening
- Recognizing goals, strengths, and resources
- Active, committed, and confidential collaboration between the mentor and mentee
What mentoring is not?
Mentoring is not
- Therapy
- Judging or criticizing
- Monologue
- Ready-made answers
- Giving internships, networks, or jobs
- One-way collaboration
This is how you succeed together
Mentoring requires commitment and time from both the mentee and mentor.
In addition, for successful mentoring it is important to
- Make a mentoring agreement in which goals and concrete steps are written down
- Agree rules for the meetings: time, place, length, distractions
- Stick with what has been agreed together
- Set meetings well in advance and prepare for them
- Be honest and say if something is not working
- Share professional networks if possible
Kupittaa Campus offers excellent premises for the mentoring meetings: meet at Taidonportaat or Aurinkokahvila in EduCity or visit in a Pub Kaivomestari. Calm coffeeshops and riverboats in warm weather are also good meeting places.
This is how the mentoring programme proceeds
The mentor application period ends on 30 September 2023. Pairs are formed in a week after the application is closed and everyone will be personally informed about the matching.
A joint starting meeting is arranged on 12 October 2023 at 16:30–18:30 online via Zoom. In the starting meeting, the mentor and mentee meet for the first time, get to know each other, and start to plan their mentoring journey.
A joint interim meeting for all is organized on 25 January 2024 at 17.00–18:30 and the closing meeting takes place on 25 April 2024 at 17:00–18:30. The forms (online/off-site) of organizing these joint meetings will be decided on a situational basis and informed of closer to each date. The joint meetings are arranged in English.
The pairs decide together, how often they meet one-on-one (minimum once a month). The pairs also decide, which language they use (Finnish/English).
Support for mentoring
We offer support for the mentoring during the entire process. We organize a joint starting meeting where the pairs meet for the first time and get information about mentoring. In addition, we organize joint interim and closing meetings for all and one meeting for mentors, where the mentors and mentees can network with each other.
The participants receive an agreement template and mentoring-appropriate exercises and tips to support the discussions between the mentor and mentee.
Ask for more information!
