Mentoring programme proves to be a strong match for AUT students
The pilot of AUT’s industry mentoring programme, supported by Kea’s Global Network, came to a close this month with a celebratory event hosted at the new Kea global headquarters on Auckland’s Princes wharf.
15 mostly Woolf Fisher First in Family scholarship students from across AUT’s faculties took part in the pilot programme, which launched in March 2016. Students were paired with a mentor relevant to their field of study. Mentors were sourced through Kea’s global network in New Zealand and around the world, including digital producers, TV presenters, police detectives, artists, chefs, journalists, software developers and even paramedics.
During semesters, participants committed to a once a month catch up either in person, over the phone or via Skype and gave students an opportunity to gain insights into different roles, organisations and sectors, and get advice from senior professionals who have ‘been there and done that.’
Students had unparalleled access to on the job experience, including preparing a lead story in the newsroom, setting up art exhibitions, participating in ambulance call outs, and experiencing nightshifts in a police car. The confidence and experience gained as a result was invaluable, some having gained internships as result.
Several of the students spoke at the event to talk about their life changing personal experiences, including Woolf Fisher First in Family scholarship recipient Brendan Allen, (Bachelor of Computing and Information Sciences).
“I didn’t really know what to expect going into the mentoring programme but it was fantastic. I knew I wanted to work in IT but the field is so big and diverse I wasn’t sure what to specialise in. Getting an insight from my mentor, Lamar, meant I’m much more confident about making the transition from student to professional and now I know I want to go into software development,” said Brendan.
Director of Special Initiatives, Robert Bruce, who spearheaded the pilot for project sponsors Joanna Scarbrough, Group Director Student Services and Administration; Dr Andrea Vujnovich, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Corporate and General Counsel; and Professor Desna Jury, Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Success, said the event was an important opportunity to see first-hand the positive impact for both mentors and mentees.
“This programme was all about helping our students become more successful in their life journey and to learn from industry experts. Preliminary evaluation indicates we met this key aim and the pilot has been a real success. Eighty-one per cent of students surveyed said they felt more confident about their future since taking part in the programme and eighty-six per cent said they would recommend the programme to a friend which of course is always an important measure. Significantly all of the students said that AUT provided enough support.
However, nothing beats hearing about the lives we changed straight from those on the receiving end. It was moving when each student stood up and shared the impact this year of mentoring has had on their lives. It’s their voices that illustrate the success of this pilot,” he said.
Whilst the mentoring programme was mentee lead and mentor guided, AUT and Kea developed and provided both parties with boundaries and guidelines on how to get the best out of the experience. Mentors were supported by Kea staff including Nikkolai Osa and Ngapera Riley from Kea, and mentees were supported by AUT staff Sue Heggie from Scholar Support and Rachel Cleary from Corporate Development, throughout the process.
Global Director of Kea, Ngapera Riley was overwhelmed with pride after the event.
"After years of developing this programme based on the Māori concept of Tuakana / Teina, I was so glad to be able to partner with AUT who backed it with academic research and funded the programme to come to fruition. I was blown away after hearing the testimonials of these students, how the mentoring experience has given them confidence, guidance on their future and has potentially changed the course of their lives. You can actually see and hear the confidence these students have gained from the beginning of the programme to the end. I know that AUT will continue to build on this legacy for their students, and I hope professionals continue to give of their time to help grow these young people, I am so grateful to all the mentors."
One of the mentors, Caroline Wells, a Producer at Young & Shand, said she got involved because she would have loved to have had a mentor when she was studying. Caroline was matched with Stacey Purdon who is studying for a Bachelor of Design
“It felt great watching my mentee gain new knowledge, new confidence, through my guidance. It's been an honour and a privilege to get to know Stacey and to help her follow her dream of becoming a designer.”
As the pilot is now completed the University will now use the experience to continue developing the programme for 2017.
AUT mentoring programme 2016 – students and mentors
- Alexandra Newman, Bachelor of Visual Arts mentored by Reina Sutton, Artist, Studio One
- Rebecca Harris, Bachelor of Business mentored by Belinda Allen, Sales Director, Orion Health
- Amanda Campbell, Bachelor of Business mentored by Richard McLean, Regional Executive – Asia, Careers Australia - Workstar
- Brendan Allan, Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences mentored by Lamar Ah-Chee, Software Developer, Datacom
- Dayna Lawrence, Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences mentored by Greig Cranfield, Co-Founder & Product Manager, Yudoozy
- Kaycee Bottcher, Bachelor of Health Science mentored by Haydn Drake, Intensive Care Paramedic, St John New Zealand
- Mackenzie Bennett, Bachelor of Business and picking up BA Culinary Arts, mentored by Ben Barton, Head Chef, Scarecrow
- Martin Yerkovich, Bachelor of Maori Development mentored by Te Arahi Maipi, TV Presenter - The After Match, Sky TV
- Nikora Price, Bachelor of Communication Studies mentored by Peata Melbourne, News Reporter/Presenter, TVNZ
- Roselyn Singh, Bachelor of Health Science mentored by Tania Hall, Interfaith & Community Outreach Specialist, Whaiora Marae
- Sarah Bowyer, Bachelor of Arts mentored by Keitha Lally, Inspector, NZ Police
- Shae Miller, Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy), Erena Wikaire, Maori and Indigenous health researcher, The University of Auckland
- Stacey Purdon, Bachelor of Design mentored by Caroline Wells, Producer, Young & Shand
- Thorne Williams, Bachelor of Communication Studies mentored by Ellen Read, National Business Editor, Fairfax Media