Mentorship Programme Launched at Lok Jack GSB
Students of the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business now have access to a Mentorship programme which was launched at the school on Saturday February 9, 2008. The programme, which is spearheaded by the Student and Alumni Services (SAS) unit, is designed to provide support to students in their professional development and overall well-being.
Mentors are required to meet with their mentees for a minimum of three hours per month, submit a progress report each month and an evaluation form upon completion of the programme. She then presented criteria for matching mentors and mentees, some challenges of the programme and the role of mentors.
Some benefits to students would be increased confidence and motivation, development of interpersonal and people management skills, and networking opportunities. “The role of the mentor includes coaching, supporting, advising, counselling, role modelling and guiding”, explained Ms. Nicole Pierre, SAS Associate, Lok Jack GSB. She added “the hallmark of a good mentoring relationship is respect, support, trust, sharing and understanding”.
Other speakers included Mr. Garland Samuel, General Manager, Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago (YBTT) and Mrs. Anisa Allaham-Hosein, Director - Human Resources, Global Medical Response of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Samuel said he was happy to partner with the school and encouraged students to become mentors with the YBTT which provides loans to young people who are unemployed and unable to get funding elsewhere. He said that while their clients may not be very educated, they are skilled entrepreneurs.
Mrs. Allaham-Hosein, also a member of the business school’s Alumni Interim Committee, said she was extremely proud to play such a key role in Lok Jack GSB’s mentoring programme. “We praise the school in their continuing effort in assisting students …to the students, do take advantage of this opportunity.” She also challenged the mentors and mentees to create learning experiences from the programme.
The initial mentorship programme begins in February and concludes in August 2008.
For further information,
contact Nicole Pierre
at 662 9894 ext. 135
or n.pierre@gsb.tt
