“REACHING MORE OF THE HARD TO REACH – MENTORING IN THE CURRICULUM” Brunel Pro-Active Mentoring Programme An integrated, targeted approach to alumni mentoring A pilot study for the MERITS Project (Minority Ethnic Recruitment Information Training & Support) Project Team: – Jonathan Wolff, Head of Careers Service – Kulvinder Birring, Senior Careers Adviser – Mariann Rand-Weaver, Director of Undergraduate Courses - Biological Sciences

 In this session we will cover: Rationale behind the Brunel Pro-active Mentoring pilot Key aims and features of the pilot study How the pilot was integrated into an academic module Purpose and content of preparatory networking session Mechanics of organising the mentoring “Hands-on” look at the objective setting exercise Feedback – what the students thought of the programme QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS “REACHING MORE OF THE HARD TO REACH – MENTORING IN THE CURRICULUM”

RATIONALE BEHIND BRUNEL PILOT (1) High proportion of Brunel students are Black/Asian –5,000 (out of total of 12,000) across Brunel –50% of students on Uxbridge campus –five departments are more than 60% non-white Mentoring schemes do not support majority at Brunel: –only a small number of places –attract only well-motivated, employable people –those who need them most have little Careers Service contact –happen outside courses - not linked to departmental initiatives –some students don’t wish to be seen as having problems

RATIONALE BEHIND BRUNEL PILOT (2) If a scheme is to reach specific groups (e.g. Black/Asian): –Best way to do this is by targeting courses with highest ratios & ensure ALL students on the courses take part in the scheme

AIMS OF THE PILOT STUDY (1): To deliver an innovative mentoring scheme which will: –Be inclusive for all students within a targeted group –Enable students to take responsibility for the process –Link with other skills initiatives within targeted department To produce a range of support materials for mentors/tutors

AIMS OF THE PILOT STUDY (2): To pioneer transferable methodologies for: –Targeting/working with students from specific groups –Integration of mentoring/networking concepts into courses To develop mentoring & work experience opportunities

FEATURES OF “PROACTIVE MENTORING” (1) Mentoring programme integrated into skills module –Within Biological Sciences Training provided for participants in: –Networking skills –Setting objectives for their mentoring & networking activities Participants attend an "Alumni Fair” –Mentoring opportunities organised at this event –Fair attended by Brunel Alumni & other employers

FEATURES OF “PROACTIVE MENTORING” (2) Participants work with a mentor and are encouraged to: –Develop other contacts –Arrange other work-shadowing/experience opportunities Project team ensures those most in need benefit Pilot activities linked to module assessment process –Pilot forms used as integral part of assessed learning logs

NETWORKING SESSION Key objective: –Develop students’ confidence for networking activity they will be required to carry out prior to, and during, the mentoring programme Session Outcomes –Understand how they’ve used contacts already –Understand how contacts can help them in Career Planning –Able to identify networks they already belong to –Understand how to make contacts and use them effectively

CARD SORT EXERCISE Focal activity for mentoring preparation sessions Enables participants to set learning objectives for both their networking and mentoring activities Participants record objectives at end of exercise and have to record progress Mentoring outcomes model –Derived from first principles –Explains relationship between different groups of outcomes –Functions as a general Career Planning model