University of Sunderland

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Professional Mentoring Scheme?

A brand new initiative run by the University of Sunderland, designed to improve the work-related skills and knowledge of participating students.

Through the Professional Mentoring Scheme students are matched with a Mentor with considerable experience of the world of work. 

How do I get involved?

Firstly, you will need to complete an online registration form and provide us with some general information about yourself together with some of your areas of interest. We will then use this information to match you with your Mentee. 

What happens once I have completed my registration form?

Once you have completed and submitted your registration form you will be invited to attend a brief induction about the scheme and will receive your Mentoring Pack which includes full details of the Mentoring Scheme, plus some useful tools and techniques which you can use as part of your mentoring experience. We will also send you details of your individual Mentee. Your Mentee in turn will receive your contact details in order to get in touch with you. 

Does my Mentee receive any information about me?

Yes, we send your Mentee your contact details including your email and telephone numbers, and a short synopsis of your career background and experience to-date as provided by you on your registration form. 

Will I receive any information about my Mentee?  

Yes, we will send you the name and contact details of your Mentee together with the name of their course and Programme Leader. We will also send you a list of the ‘Five Key Priorities’ your Mentee has said they would like to achieve from their mentoring experience.

How often should I meet my Mentee?

We ask our Mentors to establish approximately three Mentoring Sessions with their Mentees lasting approximately one hour per session.

Where should I meet my Mentee?

Under most circumstances all meetings will take place on the University of Sunderland Campus.

In the Pack we have provided you with a list of suggested meeting areas across the University. You may also wish to invite your Mentee to visit you at your business premises, however Mentors wishing to do so must first complete and return a Health and Safety Form to the Professional Mentoring Team at standout@sunderland.ac.uk

Will I be matched with a Mentee with an interest in my field of expertise?

Where possible, we may try to do this if a student has expressed an interest in a particular area. However the University of Sunderland Professional Mentoring Scheme is designed to develop our student’s generic awareness of the world of work and as such there is great value in being a Mentor to someone from outside of your specific area of expertise.

What happens if my Mentee fails to attend our appointment or does not respond to my emails?

Please contact the Professional Mentoring Team and we will endeavour to match you with another Mentee. 

Does participation in the Scheme contribute to the student’s degree qualification?

No, the Professional Mentoring Scheme is a voluntary scheme and is not linked to academic credits. The scheme has been introduced as an optional element to enhance the employability skills of participating students and to improve their awareness of the world of work.

Will I receive any payment for being involved?

Unfortunately we are unable to offer any payment.
The Professional Mentoring Scheme relies upon the good will of our participating Mentors. We are also unable to provide any reimbursement of travel costs. 

Will I need to produce any notes?

There is no requirement to produce any notes. However, we provide Mentees with an optional template in their Mentoring Pack which they may wish to use to record any actions or reflections from the mentoring meetings.

We hope you enjoy your mentoring experience and find the FAQ’s above useful. However, if you have a question which is not covered, please do not hesitate to contact the Professional Mentoring Team at standout@sunderland.ac.uk