Mentorship Programmes

Mentorship Programmes | Alumni

Structured Mentorship

Introduction

The DCU Graduate to Student Mentorship Programme, formerly known as the DCU Structured Mentorship Programme, won the prestigious IITD National Training Award for Excellence in Coaching and Mentoring for 2018 and was shortlisted as a finalist in 2020 and 2021. It is a joint initiative, co-organised by the Alumni Office and the Careers Service. The programme runs for six-months between November and April and pairs second-year students with alumni mentors for the purpose of career and personal development. Alumni and students are matched based on their areas of professional expertise, DCU course and areas of interest. Alumni mentors are asked, if possible, to provide their student mentee with a work-shadowing day as part of the programme. We appreciate that this may not be possible due to COVID-19 

The Role Of The Mentor

The role of the mentor is to contribute to the transformative student experience at DCU by assisting the development of a second year student. Through the Structured Mentorship Programme our graduates give back to Dublin City University through time, experience and expertise. In return, the programme provides a range of benefits that can be captured on the Mentor’s CV. 

To gain further insight into being a Mentor and to read Frequently Asked Questions, click here

Benefits of being a Mentor

  • Increase your confidence and motivation  
  • Develop leadership and management qualities
  • Engage in a volunteering opportunity, valued by employers
  • Benefit from a sense of fulfilment and personal growth
  • Enhance your CV

Time Commitments

Students and mentors make contact based on their own schedules and timetables. Time commitments for the programme are very flexible. As a general rule, we would ask graduates to make contact with their mentee twice a month for the duration of the programme (November to April).

Programme Schedule

The programme involves five main events / activities. Mentors are not required to attend all events, but we would ask both mentors and mentees to attend the virtual opening ceremony/training session and the closing ceremony.

We are aware that it is not always possible for alumni to provide a work-shadowing day. In this circumstance, we would ask graduates to organise an extended session with their student mentee to focus on career progression, interview or CV skills, presentation skills or similar.

Apply

This year's Mentor application has now closed.

Mentor application is now open for the 2023/24 DCU Graduate to Student Mentorship Programme. Apply here

The application process will remain open until midnight on Friday, 6th October, 2023.

To receive further mentorship updates from the Alumni Office, update your details on the DCU Keep in Touch campaign or email alumni@dcu.ie 

Graduate to Postgraduate

Introduction

A new mentoring scheme pairing emerging public relations professionals with experienced practitioners.



The Graduate to Postgraduate Mentorship programme is a collaborative initiative, organised by the Alumni office, Careers Service, and the School of Communications. This programme matches experienced professional graduates with postgraduate students from the MSc in PR and Strategic Communications course. The mentors provide insight into their respective sector and offer career support and advice during the course of the academic year.



The innovative support scheme includes mentors from organisations such as the GAA, Allianz, Alltech, Dublin City University, Central Bank, eNET, Glanbia, Google, IKEA, St Michael’s House, Web Summit and Ulster Bank.

Benefits of being a Mentor

  • Increase your confidence and motivation  
  • Develop leadership and management qualities
  • Engage in a volunteering opportunity, valued by employers
  • Benefit from a sense of fulfilment and personal growth
  • Enhance your CV

Time Commitments

Mentors and mentees make contact based on their own schedules and timetables. Time commitments for the programme are very flexible. As a general rule, we ask mentors and mentees to meet six times for the duration of the programme (October to April). Due to Covid-19, unless it is possible to observe social distancing, we advise participants of the programme to use online communication methods.

Programme Schedule

The programme involves two main events / activities. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to attend the virtual opening ceremony and training session.

Apply

Applications have now closed for this Programme.

For more information on the DCU Graduate to Postgraduate Mentorship Programme, please contact us at: alumni@dcu.ie

Graduate to Graduate Law Mentorship

Introduction

The Graduate to Graduate Law Mentorship Programme is a collaborative initiative, organised by the Alumni office, the Careers Service, and the School of Law and Government. It is aimed at graduates from the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Economics, Politics and Law (EPL) and Joint Honours (JH). The programme provides a graduate network of support between mentors and mentees, to provide encouragement and advice on various aspects of the legal profession, including the pathway to qualifying as a solicitor/ barrister (and Blackhall Place and King’s Inns entrance exams), as well as alternative employment opportunities and options for law graduates.

Benefits of being a Mentor

  • Increase your confidence and motivation  
  • Develop leadership and management qualities
  • Engage in a volunteering opportunity, valued by employers
  • Benefit from a sense of fulfilment and personal growth
  • Enhance your CV

Time Commitments

Mentors and mentees make contact based on their own schedules and timetables. Time commitments for the programme are very flexible. As a general rule, we ask mentors and mentees to meet on three separate occasions for the duration of the programme (September 2020 to April 2021). Due to Covid-19, unless it is possible to observe social distancing, we advise participants of the programme to use online communication methods.

Programme Schedule

The programme involves two main events / activities. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to attend the virtual opening ceremony and training session.

Apply

To register as a mentor of this year's programme please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@dcu.ie.