International Students Mentoring Programme

15th September 2008

Could you volunteer to mentor an International student?

International Students Mentoring Programme
INFORMATION FOR MENTORS

Could you volunteer to mentor an International student?

What is the programme about?
International students often face barriers to securing part-time work due to a lack of confidence, support networks and employers' perceptions of employing international students. Many businesses are also not aware of the capabilities and skills that international students have to offer to their organisation and the UK job market.

This is a pilot project that the University of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope University and Edge Hill University are working on to help international students enhance their university experience and opportunities through mentoring relationships with employers or other experienced international students.

At the heart of the programme is the opportunity for you to be a mentor to a current International student (known as a mentee) at one of the three universities.

Why should you get involved?
Mentoring has proved to be of benefit not only to the student mentees but also to the mentors. By getting involved you can:
• Develop your own personal and mentoring skills
• Gain a greater understanding of cultural issues and barriers to employment facing International students
• Help a student and make a difference to their time at University as well as their job prospects
What is involved?
• Attending an 1 hr information & networking event on the afternoon of Wednesday 24th September 2008 in Liverpool
• Attending a 2hr training session on the afternoon of Wednesday 8th October 2008 in Liverpool
• 2 meetings with the mentee before December 2008

How can you help?
You can support a student in a number of ways such as:
• Helping them to develop skills
• Boosting their confidence
• Sharing your experience
• Assisting with CVs and interviews
• Offering tips and advice for finding and getting into part-time employment
• Identifying networking opportunities

“Mentoring has given us a better understanding of diversity challenges, particularly regarding graduate recruitment. Personal benefits include improving mentoring skills and the satisfaction from being able to put something back into the local community.”

For further information and to register contact:
Monira Ahmed
University of Liverpool Careers & Employability Service
Tel: 0151 794 4620
Email: Monira.Ahmed@liverpool.ac.uk

This is a pilot programme funded by the Prime Minister's Initiative 2 in partnership with the National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES)
www.nases.org.uk/internationals