Q&A: Mentoring within Universities

Hi Tammy,

I came accross your blog in HBR (Give a Gift ....) and really appreciate the tips you provided. I think it will work.

These days I am busy to introduce mentoring to university students, while I found it quite struggling to reach individuals, I approached the top management of a university (my idea is to try one university first than several), then it will be promoted through its career centre.  My objective is actually to help as many as individuals (univ. students in this case) to know what they want, a lot of students just enjoying their time at college without having any specific plan on what to do after graduation. It is true for students with high or lower GPA.

Unfortunately mentoring is still not popular and the lecturers and/or university staff members does not have any idea about this. Well, throughout their lives sure they do have informal mentors, but it takes time for me to explain so that they can realise the needs for the students to have strong will and find ways to realise what they want (one of them is by having valuable conversation/relationship with mentors).

Having said that, I am seeking your opinion as now I am a bit confused about what to do to continue with introducing this concept. I am thinking of using social media (FB and/or Twitter) to sell the idea as I have been waiting for quite sometimes for more traditional way of introduction, i.e., through seminar or discussion with this university students, and there is no progress yet.

Any thought is appreciated. Thanks a lot.

Eridani