Mentoring

The motto of our mentoring programme which is executed in three phases is

“Be the change agent”.

If the role model’s message is “Be like me,” the mentor’s implicit message says: “I will help you be whoever you want to be”.

 Young people need to hear and believe both the messages.

  1. In the first phase we train our teachers as mentors of our students.
  2. In phase two we train our senior students as mentors of junior students studying in the neighborhood schools up to plus two and in phase three we train our students to be campus partners in learning.
  • In the third phase we train students as “Campus Partners in Learning”.

We are inspired by David Hamburg, President, The Carnegie Corporation of America who said that “Every College and University in the nation should have a strong, substantive, explicit, functional linkage with schools in its geographical area”.

In this approach our philosophy is grounded by the fact that “everyone has something to learn – and everyone has something to teach”.

Accordingly we adopted the concept of moulding students as mentors.

The focus will be on specific knowledge transfer and domain skills that are in demand right now. Students take charge of sharing their learning with fellow students. This results in more engagement with the program, as well as deeper sense of autonomy and mastery for the student.

                                 ‘We believe that sharing is caring’.

During the Induction programme students are introduced to the counselors and the type of help counselors can provide. Each student of AMS is attached to faculty mentors for personal guidance, career advancement and development. Faculty members continue to be the mentors with the students allocated to them for their entire stay at AMS. Every faculty member is expected to create a rapport with the student mentee, encourage her to ask questions, attempt to clarify doubts and facilitate counseling on different issues (if/when required).

Practice

A guest lecture is arranged to the class counselors of how to mentor her students. These are explained through role plays, examples. Mentors suggest remedial actions for problems faced by their mentees and include it in their success stories which are recorded. Once the journey of three-year mentorship is on the verge of completion, mentor is expected to ensure that her mentee has become self-reliant and self managed person. Parents are also called for counseling if necessary. The faculty takes a responsibility as class counselors. The strength is from 30 to 60 depending on the course. The faculty maintains a register in which success stories/case studies of the mentees recorded.

The essence of mentorship is a sustained relationship, on one-to-one basis that assures a student that she is taken care of. A mentor is expected to focus on the mentee’s holistic development by guiding her in areas like academics, career, choices, final placements etc. Continuous in lifelong learning orientation, communication skills, attitude and confidence, initiative and enterprise, self management – planning and organizing, general awareness and business awareness, adaptability and flexibility is also focused in the activity.

Evidence of Success

When these students arrive in the institute, they face many emotional, behavioral, language, economic and other difficulties for all these they need mentors to help them to come out of these situations and gain confidence to face such situations bravely. Institute has appointed a full-time counselor who helps newly admitted students to overcome their language, emotional, behavioral difficulties during first 2 to 3 years they stay in the institute.

  1. A Student of B.A was very shy and didn’t come out openly. She was mentored by her mentee as they found her to be intelligent but timid. This counseling has helped her to go for higher education and also, she is team leader in a reputed company.
  2. A Student of B. Sc who was not interested to study at all and her mother used to come regularly and discuss her daughter’s problem with teachers. After continuous counseling in a very friendly way and encouraging her to participate in all the activities and boost her confidence level. This led her to take up higher studies in M. Sc Zoology and she is regularly in contact with her mentees for guidance even today.

There are many students who are still in contact with their mentees for guidance. This gives satisfaction to the mentees as well for giving right guidance to the students.

amscollegeMentoring