Student Mentoring

THE UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN

EMPLOYABILITY MENTORING SCHEME

Here at the University of Lincoln careers service (Opportunities Service) we are looking to enhance the portfolio of services that we offer our students and employers. In the current economic climate both our students and our careers guidance professionals recognised the importance of producing graduates that are highly employable individuals. Therefore, listening to and involving the people that know, namely you, the employer is increasingly important for the successful transition of our graduates.

In September 2009 we have introduced an employability mentoring scheme pilot project, to run for the whole academic year. The scheme proved a great success with both employers/ professionals and students alike.

Following the conclusion of this pilot, we are hoping to roll the scheme out across more faculties and schools at the university. We are therefore now looking to recruit mentors for the 2010/11 academic year.

WHY BECOME A MENTOR?

There has been much publicity of late surrounding graduate employability. Graduates complete their studies with a great deal of subject/ technical knowledge and a lot of potential that they themselves sometimes do not recognise. Employers see graduates as lacking in the soft skills that make them employable individuals, such as self management, communication, problem solving, teamwork, business and customer awareness, leadership and negotiation.

Students have the potential but they sometimes need help in recognising this. This is your chance to influence graduate employability, contribute to the local economy, raise the profile of your company, and potentially nurture your employees of the future.

In addition, the scheme is a great personal and professional development opportunity for your staff and potential mentors.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR COMMITMENT?

We understand that you are busy people and so the time commitment is approached with a great deal of flexibility, and commitments can be negotiated between yourself and the mentee. However, we would envisage a commitment of no less than 6 meetings of between 1-2 hours over the academic year.

There will also be flexibility with the nature of your contact. Although we recommend that the contact should be face-to-face, we also recognise that on occasion this may not be possible due to work commitments etc. In these instances email and telephone contact may be the preferred method of contact.

WHAT IS OUR COMMITMENT?

We would provide suitable training and induction activities for all mentors and mentees to ensure all parties maximise the potential of the scheme. We will also co-ordinate the matching process and ensure that students are suitably committed to the scheme.

YOUR ROLE AS A MENTOR

As a mentor you will use your skills, experiences and knowledge to support students as they make the all important decisions about their future and make the transition from university to the ‘world of work’.

You will be there to offer them advice and guidance from the perspective of an employer and someone who has ‘been there and done it’.

INTERESTED?

If you are interested, would like further information or would like a meeting to discuss this and other services offered by the University then please contact Mark Stow in the University of Lincoln Opportunities team.

Mark Stow

Employment Opportunities Manager

Opportunities@Lincoln

University of Lincoln

Brayford Pool

Lincoln

LN6 7TS

Tel: 01522 886488 (direct)

01522 886644

E-mail: mstow@lincoln.ac.uk