Become a mentor and make a difference

We’re launching an exciting new mentoring programme where you can make a real difference to our students’ lives. Mentoring is an opportunity to share your knowledge and experience, while getting to know the workforce of the future.

The programme is targeted at three main demographics: our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students, care leavers, and students who have come to us from geographical areas that tend to send fewer than average students to university. This is because we’re committed to our widening participation work. We want to address areas where national data suggests we can make a real difference to equality of outcomes no matter a person’s background.

How does the programme work?

We invite our students to submit an application to join the programme and become a ‘mentee’. In order to be accepted they must demonstrate an understanding of the programme and a commitment to complete it.

We’ll allocate each student a mentor, and provide a framework guide based on five meetings, that we call ‘touch points’. Each touch point is given a particular theme and there will be a supporting activity for the mentee to complete.

What commitment will be required from me as a mentor?

As a mentor, you’ll meet with your student mentee once a month for five months for approximately an hour each time. We’ll encourage you to meet in person when possible, but touch points can also be over the phone or by using Skype, etc too. The mentor/mentee will agree between themselves what is most convenient.

We’ll provide you with training materials before the programme starts, and will be available with advice and guidance to support you throughout and answer any questions you have.

You’ll also need to spend some time familiarising yourself with the programme through our guidance materials. We'll invite you to a networking event on one of our campuses.

There are benefits for you too!

Mentoring is often used as a developmental opportunity for early to mid-career professionals as research shows that people taking on the role of mentor consistently report experiencing a number of positives such as:

• increased self-reflection – asking questions of a mentee supports deeper insight on your own learning path and achievements
• expanded connections and networks
• improved communication and personal skills/leadership and management qualities
• increased confidence and motivation.

And that’s not to mention the sense of fulfilment you’ll experience by helping an individual grow to be the best that they can be, fittingly in line with our University’s motto: Excellence through partnership.

FAQs