Students benefit from mentoring with Cardiff Innovations businesses
25 April 2024
Cardiff University students have gained valuable insight into the working world through a successful ‘Meet your Mentor’ scheme.
The Cardiff University Career Mentoring Programme has brought together University students and business experts for the 4th successful year. This year, 221 undergraduate and postgraduate students were matched with a mentor in their chosen sector/industry. The programme gave them the chance to gain valuable information, advice, and insight into their future career choices, as well as providing them opportunities to develop their network and build confidence with the support of professionals already working in their chosen sector.
This year, 7 businesses from Cardiff Innovations, including Sotic, SimplyDo, Empirisys, Taith, Cardiff Capital Region, Bak, and Bipsync, took part, with 11 mentors generously offering their time and expertise to the scheme. The initiative allowed the students to benefit from in-person and online mentoring sessions tailored to support them to achieve their career goals, as well as a group networking ‘Meet your Mentor’ session at sbarc|spark, CV advice, and mock-interviews.
Jasmine Dodd, one of the students, said: “The conversations with my mentor really boosted my confidence. I'm graduating this year, and I don't know what's after that. The Mentoring Programme really helped me understand that the journey isn't always linear and has made me more accepting and confident about the future. It's a great programme and something I’m always talking about with my friends, and I encourage students to take part”.
Cardiff Innovations’ objective of promoting an inclusive and collaborative ethos of innovation was echoed in the sentiments conveyed by the professional mentors taking part. Many expressed a desire to nurture the next generation and help dismantle potential barriers to career opportunities.
Peter Sueref CTO of Empirisys said: “I received mentoring earlier in my career and it was one of the most valuable things that I did."
The Cardiff University Career Mentoring Programme was an opportunity to give back. I feel quite strongly about building up a talent base in Wales, and this is a direct way that I can have some impact.
Alice Burke, Business Support Officer, Cardiff Innovations, said: “Watching this program evolve and thrive year after year shows the immense value it brings to both mentors and mentees alike. We are thrilled to have had so many of our Cardiff Innovations tenants participate in this year's program, and it was wonderful to facilitate such a pivotal aspect of the mentoring journey at sbarc|spark."
Cardiff University Career Mentoring sessions take place between December and April each academic year with full support and guidance available from the Student Futures Work Experience team throughout the programme.
Linda Smith, Work Experience Project Officer, said: “Facilitating the now annual ‘Mentor Meet Up’ for sbarc|spark tenants who mentor students on the Career Mentoring Programme is a highlight of the year."
Giving students the opportunity to spend time in a professional environment is invaluable to developing their understanding of what to expect in a workplace. Hearing participants talk about the impact of their individual journeys through the programme is testament to the empowering nature of mentoring.
She continued: "A huge ‘thank you’ to the Cardiff Innovations tenants who volunteered to support students this year.”
If you’d like to register interest in the 2024/25 Career Mentoring programme please complete this form or email workexperience@cardiff.ac.uk.
