Kingston University alumni support current students through the Beyond Barriers mentoring scheme
Posted Wednesday 17 June 2015
Our Beyond Barriers mentoring scheme is available for both staff and students and is just one of the strategies we are using to help the university make progress against its equality objectives.
We want all of our students to complete their degree with the best possible results and know that career prospects are greatly improved if they have the life skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Run by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion unit at Kingston University, the scheme is designed to improve the success of under-represented groups in retention, attainment and employability.
Taking part in the Beyond Barriers scheme has proved beneficial to everyone involved, some of the mentors and mentees share their stories:
Alumni mentor: Ardi Kolah, EU Compliance and Recruitment Ltd
"The whole process was handled extremely well and even though I hadn't any say in whom I was going to mentor, the match was extremely successful in that there was an immediate deep level of interest and engagement with the participant. I was impressed by the maturity demonstrated, as well as the focus, that the participant had in terms of her current and future career direction – certainly I didn't have this when I was 19 years-old so I learned a lot too!
As an alumnus of Kingston University, it was a wonderful way of returning to my school and being able to have a small and positive impact for someone who's just setting out in their career in the same way that I did over 32 years earlier."
Student mentee: Salisha Baptiste, Law with Business Management undergraduate student
"Ardi has been absolutely amazing; it is nice to have someone to put things into perspective for you. He made me realise that there is a big wide world out there and that I should utilise my potential. Having him as mentor has been beneficial for me as it is great to talk to someone that started the same path as you but allows you to see that there a whole range of careers and opportunities that you can take part in. Thank you for this opportunity it has been extremely influential"
Alumni mentor: Francesca Jordan, self employed
"Ruth has been a real pleasure to work with. She is motivated, knowledgeable and knows just what she wants for the future. Being able to help her network and present herself to the right audience has been both interesting and rewarding for me. I hope it has been the same for her!"
Student mentee: Reece Jamal-Fatuhi, Marketing, Communications and Advertising undergraduate student
"I joined the scheme because I felt I lacked direction in regards to what aspects the marketing industry I'd most like to engage in. Through my mentoring I've been shown real life, first hand projects created to target diverse audiences in the world of sponsorship. This scheme has been fantastic in helping me understand not only my course better, but given me a far wider picture of what I can expect after I've graduated, and I would recommend it to all students regardless of their course!"
Both the mentors and the mentees have agreed that the scheme really does help to ‘break barriers'.
Student mentee: Rebekah Adebanjo, Pharmacology & Business undergraduate
"I would recommend the scheme to future students as it helps you to put your own future into perspective, guides you on the right educational but personal path to self-discovery. Beyond Barriers is there to encourage and help you unlock and fulfil the potential which is in each and every one of us! The scheme is there to help you achieve new heights you never thought you could have by ‘breaking the barriers.'"
Alumni mentor: Barbara Stella Acan, Conran & Partners
"I wanted to become a mentor in the Beyond Barriers Mentoring Scheme to make a difference and provide guidance to a student in the field of design and particularly from a black and minority ethnic (BME) background. I think mentoring schemes such as this are very important for BME groups as it does help ‘break barriers' and provides diverse support which could lead to equal opportunities, which I feel is something that wasn't available to me when I graduated from architecture seven years ago."
If you wish to take part in the scheme, contact us 020 8417 4047 or email beyondbarriers@kingston.ac.uk.
