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Mentoring partnerships provide many benefits
Welcome to the Activate Mentoring Programme Mentee webpage. Here you will find useful information about the programme which will support your mentoring partnership. The deadline to submit an application to be mentored through Activate for 2024-25 has now passed.
Find out what previous mentees have gained from being mentored through Activate:
- enhance your experience at Imperial – “I could share all my worries about my PhD life and I got a lot of advise for time management, communication with my supervisor and how to overcome frustration.”
- support you to clarify your purpose and productivity – “The mentor has helped me achieve my goals that I set during my year at Imperial and also helped me on how to organise my outlook for the future.”
- build your motivation and confidence – “I met people with shared experience and background as me, allowing me to realise that the difficulties I am facing are not single to me, but reflective of a wider issue experienced by many others.”
- develop a peer community for you to engage with - “I had regular meetings with my mentor during the programme. She is very nice and caring. Our regular meetings made me feel supported and valued at Imperial. I appreciate the opportunity Activate has offered to help students develop connections at Imperial and feel the support from community”
- develop your focus and preparation during your study and for future career/academic aspirations – “My mentor encouraged me to apply explore career options and apply for internships to gain experience and confidence in the application processes, specifically interviews. It also helped me learn how to navigate my disabilities”
- create a deeper sense of belonging - "Having a mentor from a minority group felt more relatable. He also was ideal for the advice I was seeking. The speakers at the events were also very good and some of their words have stuck with me. Also nice to meet other mentees and mentors, it was a comfortable space to talk and felt like a community."
Mentee accordions
As an Activate Mentee you will be required to complete mandatory online training which previous mentees highly recommend will support your mentoring partnership. There are also optional workshops and events for you to attend. Please make a note of these dates in your diary:
- Mandatory: In November, and prior to meeting with your mentor for the first time, you will be expected to complete "Introduction to Mentoring" (online self-paced course).
- Optional for all: 20 November 2024 |12.00 - 14.00| In-person South Kensington Campus| Activate mentee welcome lunch and networking
- Optional training for minority ethnic mentees: 29 January 2025 |12.00 - 13.30| In person South Kensington Campus | What gets in the way of you showing up & speaking up - meet your saboteurs
- Optional training for disabled mentees: 30 January 2025 | 10.00 - 13.00| In person South Kensington Campus | a dedicated workshop to build confidence and assertiveness
- Optional support for all: 17 March 2025 | 14.00 - 15.00 | online through Teams | Mentee "check-in"
- Optional support for all: 20 March 2025 | 14.00 - 15.00 | online through Teams | Mentee "check-in"
- Optional training for minority ethnic mentees: 26 March 2025 | 12.00 - 13.30 | In person South Kensington Campus| How to show up with presence and intention.
- Optional training for minority ethnic mentees: 28 May 2025 | 12.00 - 13.30 | In person White City Campus | The power of your story to inspire you and others
- Optional for all: 2 July 2025 | 17.00 - 18.30 | In person South Kensington Campus | Activate End of Programme Celebration.
Activate mentors are staff, alumni and PhD students who have particular insight and understanding of the educational experience of students of Minority Ethnic backgrounds and students with disabilities, and the challenges they face within education and navigating College life.
Imperial has a wealth of resources to support you throughout your time here. The following may also support your mentoring journey:
- The Student Support Zone is your ultimate guide to wellbeing at Imperial.
- You Are Not Alone the College has several avenues of support for students who have experienced bullying, harassment, discrimination or sexual violence.