Program Design and Outcomes
The APWiL Mentoring Program is a year-long commitment matching a mentor and mentee from one of the participating APRU member universities. Each participating institution can be represented by up to two mentors and two mentees. Institutions should nominate the same number of mentors as mentees in order to ensure that we have even numbers in the program. (If your institution is nominating one mentee, then you should be nominating one mentor. If your institution is nominating two mentees, then you should be nominating two mentors.) Depending on mentor/mentee balance the program will have a maximum of 52 pairs of mentors and mentees.
One-on-One mentoring
-
Mentor and mentee will develop a mentoring agreement identifying goals for the program.
-
Mentor and mentee will set a schedule of bi-monthly virtual conversations (at least six meetings during the program duration).
-
Mentor and mentee will provide an update half-way through the program to assess their progress.
-
A final written program evaluation will be submitted by each mentor and mentee.
Workshops
-
Mentor and mentee will participate in virtual workshops with the Mentoring Program cohort focused on topics relating to leadership, empowerment, professional growth, etc.
-
Mentor and mentee will participate in a virtual orientation for all program participants and a concluding seminar (linked to the Annual Presidents’ Meeting or Senior International Leaders’ Meeting).
Resources
-
Mentor and mentee will have access to a resource library as well as suggested topics for discussion throughout the program.
-
Our Alumni Network allows participants to stay connected and engaged with the ever-expanding network of inspiring, accomplished and mutually supportive women who have graduated from the Mentoring Program.
Time Commitment
The success of the Program is, in large part, thanks to the engagement and drive of the participants. Mentors are volunteers giving their time to support the development of their mentee. Based on the pilot program, participants who got the most out of the Program are those who whole-heartedly committed to, and invested time and energy in, the Program and their mentoring relationship.
This is a one-year program, starting with the orientation and kick-off in November 2021 to the graduation ceremony in October 2022. Participants are located in all parts of the Asia Pacific Rim.
Once the pairs have been announced, each mentoring pair is responsible for managing their own meetings with the onus on mentees to drive the engagement. We suggest that pairs meet bi-monthly with at least six sessions during the entirety of the Program. Most mentees and mentors will reside in different time zones. There is a need for flexibility in scheduling meetings in order to find a time that works for both parties.
In addition to the one-on-one mentoring between pairs, APWiL and APRU will also arrange virtual workshop sessions which are an essential piece of the program where participants connect with their cohort beyond their mentoring pair. Both mentors and mentees are strongly encouraged to attend all workshops. We also actively encourage participants to organise their own discussion groups and social events to expand their network and further support each other.
Language of Delivery
Workshops and all group mentoring sessions are delivered in English.
Cost
The Program, including workshops and one-on-one mentoring are free of charge for both mentors and mentees thanks to the generous support of our participating universities. Face-to-face meetings will be subject to travel costs including flight, food, lodging, transportation, etc. For the 2021-22 cohort, the concluding seminar will tentatively be planned in-person coinciding with the APRU Senior International Leaders Meeting. We will not be charging for registration for the face-to-face concluding seminar. Outside of this, all workshops will be held virtually.
Evaluation Process
As this is the first year the mentoring program will be fully implemented across the entire APRU network, a formative evaluation approach will serve to inform program improvements for replicating and scaling in subsequent years. As such, key objectives for evaluation are to gather participant feedback on the program as it relates to the following:
-
How well did the mentorship program meet participants’ needs (i.e. achieve articulated goals)? How might participants’ needs differ from what was planned / anticipated?
-
What worked well and not so well?
-
What challenges / barriers, new opportunities, or ancillary impacts (positive / negative) resulted from participation in the program?
-
-
How can the program be improved?
-
What mechanisms are most effective for monitoring implementation?