Mentors and mentees recently gathered for an online function to reflect on the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Career Mentorship Programme, which harnesses the professional experience of UP alumni who act as mentors for students in their final year of study.

Piloted at the School of Engineering in 2019, the programme was extended to the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technolgy (EBIT) and the Faculty of Theology and Religion last year, before being expanded to more faculties this year.

The virtual function was held in recognition of the efforts and achievements of mentors and mentees who were part of the EBIT Faculty and Faculty of Theology and Religion’s career mentorship programmes. It is worth noting that despite the challenges of online mentoring, 87 of the students (80%) in these two faculties completed the programme.

During the event, Professor Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic at UP, spoke about the mentorship programme’s value. “It becomes increasingly difficult for students to find employment even though the employment of UP students after graduation remains high,” he said. “It is therefore essential for students to be involved in other activities to ensure that they are career ready. As such, the mentoring programme provides them with a critical resource to be ready for work.”

Through the mentoring process, he added, students have the opportunity to obtain advice on developing their professional strengths. The mentors also gain value through the relationship with the current cohort of students, as they are exposed to new perspectives of soon-to-graduate young professionals, which strengthen their leadership and coaching styles.

Mentors include early-career as well as senior-career professionals, some of whom mentor more than one student, such as Architecture lecturer Akheel Naicker, who accommodated 11 Architecture students. Most mentors and students interact through Google Meet, where they discuss the career experiences, choices and goals of the mentors, how to apply for a job, and much more.

Over the past year, mentors also presented seminar sessions for the group. Dr Johan Louw discussed Christian leadership; Dr Cas Prinsloo shared tips on managing time; and Naicker shared how to improve a LinkedIn profile. Engineering consultants Zutari and multinational KPMG also delivered presentations on what to expect in the work environment.

During the recent online event, mentors shared that they wanted to be part of the initiative because they enjoyed witnessing the growth of work readiness among students over the course of the programme and because it was important for them to give back to UP.

Two mentors reflected on the mentoring process and their experience during the past academic year. “Synchronous technology allowed the students to have an enriching experience, for instance, attending an international event,” Naicker said. “My mentor had an immense influence on how I will mentor future mentees,” added Dr Doniwen Pietersen, a lecturer at the University of the Free State who mentored a student in the Faculty of Theology and Religion.

“My mentor allowed me to join him on site in his work environment, which exposed me to other possible career paths,” shared Vincent Good, a final-year Industrial Engineering student.  “Also, the flexibility of the programme in terms of how to meet with my mentor and what to discuss allowed me to focus on my specific needs.”

The mentors and mentees thanked the University for the valuable experience, as well as Dr Martina Jordaan, who coordinated the process. 

If you are a UP alumnus or student and would like to find out more about the programme and get involved as a mentor or mentee, please contact Johannah Koko Legodi at [email protected].