What is Student Mentor?

Student Mentor is an initiative started by the Digital Ad Lab UK and is initially intended to help undergraduates and postgraduates of the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, to enter the media and communication industry with significantly better industry knowledge and greater understanding of the environment that they are entering.

However this initiative has goals far greater than one college, the initiative hopes to establish a framework and a funding model that can help any School, College or University implement a mentoring scheme with little or no direct cost to the organisation. It hopes to copy this initiative and propagate the mentor system.

How will this be done?

We plan to establish a successful model with LCC and prove that the system works.

The mentoring scheme will commence October 09 and its funding will be based on the dinner to raise funds on the 21^st April. 

Exact St8us – a software development company has agreed to create a collaborative software solution that will take a lot of the administration of such a scheme away from the already ‘very busy’ teaching staff. This will greatly reduce the costs to the organisation. It will enable video conference, chat, diary and a host of collaboration tools to keep the momentum and the utilisation of the scheme to a maximum.

The first 7 Courses are:

• Foundation Degree in Digital Media Design
• Foundation Degree in Print Media Management
• BA (Hons) Digital Media Design
• BA (Hons) Print Media Management
• BA (Hons) Magazine Publishing
• MA Magazine Publishing
• MA Print Media Management

What is involved?

Phase 1

Mentors are currently being recruited for each course and each student will be expected to carry out an application task to earn the opportunity of a mentor. This task will be set by the course tutor.  (It will not be a case that the student gets a mentor without demonstrating commitment to being mentored).

Once the Mentors and Mentees have been identified – the course tutor will match-make based on skills of the Mentors and the desired sectors that the students have requested.

It is expected that both Mentors and Mentees will ‘sign up’ to a number of commitments.

Principally:

1 hour per month direct 1 to 1 contact – preferably face to face

Punctuality – both parties

Priority – this is not something that should be set aside without due cause

2 year duration for undergraduates (2^nd and 3^rd year) ,  1 year for postgraduates

Accountability – accurate completion of the administration requirement within the software – reports, comments etc

Commitment

Phase 2

Once student mentor software has been developed and the first year of the pilot scheme with LCC is a success the intention is to produce ‘funding packs’ which replicate the funding that we have achieved with the pilot –

Industry focussed – funding dinner

Sponsorship – industry specific

Software – banner advertising

This should provide sufficient funding to set up any College/ University for a 2 year scheme with little direct cost. 

We anticipate less than £5k for a 2 year scheme – this covers software infrastructure/ licensing but will know more after the pilot.

We have already had interest from US media organisations to set up a scheme in the US as well as colleges in Portugal for foreign language students.

Phase 3

We also plan to set up a “Tutor Mentoring Scheme” that enables tutors to collaborate with executive industry professionals to keep them in tune with the sector/industry changes and issues.

We feel that many Tutors would relish an industry connection so that they too can continue to gain greater understanding of the sector that their students are entering.

What do you need to do next?

Register on www.student-mentor.com

In the comment line put ”info” if you want to join the mailing list, “Mentor” if you are interested in being a mentor or “Scheme” if you are interested in starting a mentoring scheme.

Recruit people who you think could add to the mentoring process

Spread the word – The only way that this initiative will be successful is if people know about it !

Send them to the web site, If you think there should be more information on the site mail info@student-mentor.com  and we will put it up as soon as possible!

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FAQ's

What are the benefits for students?

• Provides a better understanding of work environment, its culture and demands.
• Increases business awareness and personal skills
• Builds confidence
• Improves job prospects and employability
• Provides one-to-one support from an experienced professional, in a real work environment
• Provides access to employer networks

What are the benefits for the mentors?

• Provides valuable developmental opportunities for mentors
• Builds confidence
• Can enhance motivation and job satisfaction
• Promotional opportunities for your organisation through on-going publicity of the scheme
• The students will become ambassadors for your organisation within LCC
• Opportunity to network with other organisations taking part
• The experience can be challenging, inspiring and enlightening
• Can provide recruitment opportunities

Tips for mentors to help meetings work well

• Explore the student’s needs
• Remain neutral
• Offer strategies not solutions
• Help set personal goals
• Demonstrate active listening
• Ask open questions
• Identify developmental needs
• Give information and advice
• Share experience and tell stories

How will mentors and students be matched and how will they first meet?

Matching will be done by course tutors at LCC based on information provided by the student applying for the scheme and the characteristics of the different mentors. The first meeting will take place at the launch event currently planned to take place on the evening of Tuesday 20^th October