The University of Sydney offers a range of mentoring programs to support students and early-career alumni to gain the real-world knowledge and leadership skills they need to make a smooth transition to the workforce.
Our alumni and supporters are integral to these programs, providing their support and expertise to help the next generation of leaders to thrive.
The Dalyell Professional Mentoring Program connects third-year Dalyell Scholars with experienced industry mentors to cultivate professional expertise and leadership. The program runs for three months each year. You will help mentees explore career pathways and provide hands-on perspectives on the professional environment.
University area: University-wide
Dates: Semester 1
Format: Group mentoring, online and in-person (in-person preferred)
Frequency: Minimum of 3 sessions
The Business Industry Mentoring Program is a leadership program that connects business professionals with current students in a mentoring relationship that focuses on career and professional development. The program runs for six months each year. Professionals with over five years of experience in business provide mentoring to current business students. You will provide actionable advice on career planning and decision-making.
University area: The University of Sydney Business School
Dates: Semester 1
Format: 1:1 mentoring in-person
Frequency: Set by the mentor and mentee
The First in Family Mentoring Program is run by the School of Economics and pairs experienced alumni with students who are first in their family to attend tertiary education. This program aims to showcase where a degree in economics can take students. Mentors have the opportunity to provide career advice and professional guidance.
University area: School of Economics
Dates: Semester 1
Format: 1:1 mentoring, online or in-person
Frequency: Set by the mentor and mentee
The MySydney and E12 Mentoring Program connects equity students with alumni and industry professionals to provide opportunities for these high potential students to explore career aspirations and develop employability skills.
This program is targeted at the E12 Scheme scholars and MySydney scholars, which recognise equity students who have a strong motivation for learning, a record of community leadership, and high potential to succeed. Equity students may have experienced financial hardship, grown up in an area of socio-economic disadvantage, or attended a rural or regional school. This program runs over a three-month period.
University area: University-wide
Dates: Semester 2
Format: Group mentoring, online and in-person (in-person preferred)
Frequency: One session per month
The Sydney University Women in Engineering Industry Mentoring Program aims to foster an empowering community and facilitating career growth by connecting female engineering students with alumni mentors. This program runs for six months each year. Mentors provide coaching, guidance on how to navigate a traditionally male-dominated workplace, and advice on transitioning into the workforce.
University area: Faculty of Engineering
Dates: Semester 2
Format: 1:1/1:2 mentoring, online or in-person
Frequency: 1 session per month
The Practera Mentoring program connects high-performing students with accomplished alumni in a work-integrated setting. Alumni are paired with a team of five to six students to collaboratively deliver a consulting project or solve an industry problem over three weeks. You will lead the team in developing creative solutions and encourage students to think outside the box to create impactful outcomes.
University area: The University of Sydney Business School
Dates: Semester 1 or 2
Format: Group mentoring, online
Frequency: 1-2 hours per week across three weeks
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Mentoring Program connects final-year DVM students with experienced veterinary science alumni to aid students in transitioning to full-time employment and gain industry insights. This program runs for 12 months each year. You will provide advice on transitioning into the workforce and tips on how to manage their final year of veterinary education.
University area: Faculty of Science
Dates: Starts Semester 2
Format: 1:1 mentoring, online or in-person
Frequency: Up to the mentor and mentee
I’m a great believer in trying to see the world through someone else's eyes. The mentoring process is a great way to do that.
Mentor
Each mentoring program has its own selection criteria and requirements: please refer to the relevant program for more information.
Mentors are required to be approachable and engaged, available for the whole duration of a program, and prepared to deliver the mentoring sessions as per the program guidelines.
Key attributes we look for in a mentor are enthusiasm for sharing their expertise and experience, ability to motivate students, as well as providinge constructive feedback and empathy for our students.
If you're not sure whether you're eligible to mentor, please contact the Global Volunteers Team at alumni.office@sydney.edu.au
It varies by program. While some programs are designed to engage University of Sydney alumni, others welcome non-alumni mentors as well. Please check the specific requirements for each program. We encourage mentors with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to participate in our programs to enrich the experience for mentors and mentees.
Most programs offer online options, allowing you to participate from anywhere. However, some programs may require face-to-face interaction. Please review the details of each program to understand the location preferences and requirements.
The expectations of mentors vary by program. Mentors should work with their students to determine what kind of support will be most useful, such as specific feedback related to preparing for life after university, general career advice, and information on further learning.
Mentors are expected to commit to the whole duration of the mentorship, which varies for each program. This gives you the opportunity to participate in a program which suits your availability. If a mentor must leave the relationship early, we request at least one month's notice to search for a replacement mentor with a similar background.
A digital badge is a representation of an accomplishment or skill that can be displayed, accessed and verified online. It serves as a digital certification of your achievement, easily allowing others to recognise and validate your expertise.
As a mentor, you receive a digital badge at the start of the program that you can post on your LinkedIn profile and other social media profiles, and add to your email signature.
Badges enhance your visibility by easily showcasing your skills and increasing credibility as they serve as an endorsement of your achievements. Expressing your skills through a badge showcases your accomplishment and involvement with a program at one of the world's best Universities.
The University of Sydney have partnered with the badging platform Accredible. Badges issued by the University of Sydney via the Accredible platform are uniquely linked to your details which eliminates the possibility of others claiming your certification.
Update your details or contact us to stay connected with the University and the alumni community.