Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/40736

Title

Going the extra mile: Swinburne Lilydale's mentor program

Author(s)

Austin, Joanne;  Covalea, Louisa;  Weal, Steve

Abstract

International Students coming to Australia, and often traveling overseas for the first time, can feel bewildered and a little lost initially. With this in mind, Swinburne’s campus at Lilydale has been going the extra mile to look after these students, with a successful mentoring program now in its third year. The program was implemented in response to the perceived need to help exchange students acclimatize quickly to their new environment from both an academic and a cultural perspective. To date the program has been very positive and successful and has enabled international students the opportunity to meet, make friends and be a part of the local culture, whilst local students are learning about other cultures and ways of life in a personalised way. The program was so successful that in 2001 it was expanded to include all international students as well as the exchange students. The program works by inviting domestic Swinburne, Lilydale students to volunteer as mentors. Applicants are interviewed and those who are successful are provided with a position description, training, planning sessions and an information pack. Each international and exchange student is assigned a mentor who is responsible for introducing them to campus life and for helping them find their way in a broader sense by providing advice on issues such as shopping, banking and entertainment. A Mentor Coordinator, who is a staff member, is responsible for the program. This staff member works closely with the mentors and the international students. An activities program is developed and in order to ensure quality processes and adequacy of provision, the program is evaluated and reviewed each semester from both the student and the mentor perspective.

Publication type

Conference paper

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale

Source

Paper presented to 'New times, new approaches': the 16th Australian International Education Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 30 September-04 October 2002

Publication year

2002

Keyword(s)

Australia;  Buddy system;  Case studies;  Colleges;  Cultural acclimatisation;  Higher education;  International students;  Mentoring;  Swinburne University of Technology;  Universities

Publisher

IDP Education Australia

ISSN

2002-0509 (series ISSN)

Publisher URL

http://www.aiec.idp.com/past_papers/2002.aspx

Copyright

Copyright © 2002 IDP Education Australia Limited.