Career mentorship ensures that graduates are ready for work Dr Martina Jordaan
The value of a degree from the University of Pretoria was further reinforced in 2019 when a survey revealed that 93% of its alumni were employed within six months of graduation, according to Prof Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic. It is, therefore, necessary to train students to not only find employment after they graduate, but also to excel at those careers and become leaders in their industries. Career mentorship has been identified as an important element in developing work-ready graduates. In light of this, the University launched a Career Mentorship pilot programme in 2019 as part of its Ready for Work initiative. This programme was aimed at getting the involvement of alumni in the mentoring of final-year students in the School of Engineering. It aimed to develop work-related skills and confidence associated with the engineering profession and to build effective career networks. Mentoring can be described as the relationship between two people, where the mentor has the knowledge, expertise and insight to assist in the development and growth of the mentee. Through mentorship, a career can be guided and assistance provided in the induction of a profession, as well as through progress and promotion. Mentoring can be seen as an interlinking task and can take on various forms. The outcomes can be positive for the individual involved, depending on their commitment and investment of time in the process. The students in the School of Engineering who were selected to participate in the Career Mentorship pilot programme, conducted from April to July 2019, had to indicate why they would like to be part of the programme. The names of potential mentors were provided by the University’s Alumni Office, 2 0 2 0
as well as the engineering consultancy, Aurecon. Eventually, 33 students and 24 mentors participated in the programme. The mentors, who varied from early-career engineers to senior professionals, had the option of choosing the mentees they thought they would be able to mentor. The mentorship process included two meetings, either online or faceto-face, and one job shadowing session. The mentors and mentees could decide on the topics they wished to discuss. The following themes were typically addressed: • How to cope with the new work environment • The process of becoming a registered engineer • The work experience of the mentor • How to develop management skills • How to apply for a job As both mentors and mentees had demanding schedules, which often made it logistically challenging to meet, they often communicated via email or telephone calls. The main reflection of the mentors on the programmes was that they enjoyed watching someone grow personally. It gave them personal satisfaction and the opportunity to give back to the University. At a function held on 16 July 2019 to acknowledge the work of the mentors and the involvement of the mentees, Prof Duncan reflected:
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“Of course UP alumni will assist us significantly in preparing our graduates for the workplace by joining us in this career-mentoring endeavour in the knowledge that current mentees will one day give back by mentoring others in future.” Following the success of the pilot programme, it was extended to the remainder of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, as well as the Faculty of Theology, in 2020. There are currently 90 students and 78 mentors involved in the programme. In a survey upon completion of the programme, the mentees reflected positively on the programme and felt that the mentors had made a difference in their lives. The students indicated that they especially enjoyed the job shadowing day.
Career mentorship has been identified as an important element in developing work-ready graduates. The Career Mentorship pilot programme aimed to develop work-related skills and confidence associated with the engineering profession and to build effective career networks among final-year students in the School of Engineering.
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