The College of Human Sciences hosed the 2017 Mentorship graduation and closing ceremony which celebrated and recognised the journey travelled by the mentors and mentees who took part in the programme. The Mentorship programme was established in 2009 by the College’s then Executive Dean, Professor Rosemary Moeketsi, with the aim that senior academics assist and mentor the young academics guiding them in their academic growth.

The mentees were given a chance in the programme to report back on their experiences and all boasted on the support and involvement their mentors have had in their journeys as academics. They were empowered to better navigate their academic journey and were equipped to deal with their challenges in an impactful way.

“Mentoring if navigated successfully nourishes others to grow and act in greater confidence, like it is the case with the College of Human Sciences mentorship programme,” said Dr Gwendoline van der Berg. She said that mentorship is a journey, which is not dependent on a person in a more senior positon or older in age but rather mentorship is about a mentor that acts as a guide based on their experiences.

She emphasised that the relationship between the mentee and mentor is of utmost important because these days the return on relationship is the new currency. She elaborated that mentoring is also set apart from other development initiatives because they drive results and change careers for the better.

 “To truly give value, mentors need to give up themselves and help mentees see their blind spots with genuine interest in the mentees growth.” She advised the mentees to invest in themselves and grab every opportunity and focus on growing.

She concluded her address by stating that it is important to establish our return on relationships and ask ourselves what we did right and what we did wrong and what we need to do differently next time. The mentees should package and distribute the knowledge learnt as influencers to others.

Professor Andrew Phillips, Executive Dean of the College, congratulated everyone for completing the mentorship programme and highlighted that the mentorship programme is a very important programme in the College and has been continuing to develop scholars. “The mentorship programme is our investment in you because we know the return we will receive from you.”

He said that as one progresses in their career they should take others with them and lift them up as they rise. He acknowledged that being an academic sometimes is a selfless job, as you are expected to sacrifice your time to achieve what is required and the mentees had the same sacrificial experience in the mentorship programme because they had to give in the effort and time. “In the College of Human Sciences and Unisa, you can grow and excel and we want you to grow … Live and lift as you rise.”

Prof. Andrew Phillips (Executive Dean: College of Human Sciences) congratulated everyone for completing the 2017 CHS mentorship programme.

*By Nomshado Lubisi (CHS communications and marketing)