On the evening of 23 February 2023, The Promentor Programme: An Alumni Mentoring Programme hosted a networking event for mentors and mentees, held at the University of Oxford Careers Service building.
The Promentor Programme, run by the Careers Service through with the support of the MaxEm Trust, provides foundation and first year University of Oxford students on bursaries with the opportunity to connect with professionals in their field of interest and receive guidance and advice from experienced mentors for the duration of their undergraduate degree.
The Promentor Programme provides outstanding mentoring to some of our bursary holders. The programme empowers and encourages the students to discover different aspects of the job roles and industries they are interested in, all supported by great mentors! It’s a fabulous programme and we are very grateful for the generosity of the MaxEm Trust which supports it.
- Dr Fiona Whitehouse, Head of the Internship Office
The event was well attended, with mentors and mentees from a variety of industries and backgrounds mingling and exchanging ideas. The atmosphere was lively and engaging, with everyone eager to share their experiences and insights.
The evening kicked off with a welcome message from the Careers Service Director, Jonathan Black, who talked about the importance of the programme and the benefit it brings to participants.
The floor was then given to the Promentor Programme Administrator, Katie Fletcher, who spoke about the benefits of networking, not only at the Celebration Event, but beyond that as well.
The talks were followed by informal networking, which provided a platform for students to build meaningful connections with professionals and gain insights into the working world. Many participants expressed interest in continuing their conversations beyond the event, so a LinkedIn group was introduced to allow participants to continue exchanging ideas and supporting each other.
I want to thank everyone who came to what was an enjoyable evening on a cold February night! We were pleased to see old and new faces chatting alongside members of the Alumni Office and our generous donor, the MaxEm Trust.
The evening was not only to celebrate the Promentor Programme and its achievements but also to champion mentoring itself. With this in mind, we are keen to encourage and support networking across the whole of the Promentor Programme and beyond. Through our new LinkedIn group, we aim to foster a sense of community amongst all the mentors and mentees on the programme and create a collaborative space that allows for networking and exchanging of ideas.
- Katie Fletcher, Promentor Programme Administrator
The evening is a testament to the Promentor Programme's commitment to fostering professional development and providing students with the tools and resources they need to succeed in their chosen careers.
How to take part in the Promentor Programme
Oxford University students: Applications for the next round of the Promentor Programme opens for University of Oxford students in Michaelmas term 2023.
Professionals: If you are a professional interested in mentoring, find out how to become a mentor.