DCU launches mentoring programme with Junior Chamber International
20 October 2004

Fernando Sanchez-Arias, President of Junior Chamber International and Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, President of DCU

Dublin City University officially launched a joint mentoring programme in DCU on Tuesday 19 October, in partnership with JCI Fingal (Junior Chamber International). The guest-speaker was Fernando Sanchez-Arias, President of Junior Chamber International.

The initiative is the `brainchild' of Muireann Ni Dhuigneain of the DCU Careers Service and Amber Jaeger of the Fingal branch of the Junior Chamber International, which is a separate organisation to the Chamber of Commerce. It is made up of volunteers from each local area who organise a wide range of projects which are aimed at developing the entrepreneurial skills of people in the 18-40 age bracket. The projects they are involved in range from charity events to the organisation of local events and are aimed at developing skills which will be of benefit to the local community.

The mentoring programme was set up as a pilot programme in 2003 and involved the mentoring of 2nd year DCU students by local business people. 35 students participated in the scheme and were `partnered' with their mentors. Due to the success of the trial project in 2003, the 2004 programme was launched officially by Mr Sanchez-Arias, with the support of Dublin City University President, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski.

The event was attended by last year's mentors and their students who, according to DCU President, had both benefited from the partnership. "DCU has a strong commitment to the local community and aims to work in close cooperation with as many agencies as possible. This programme is of value to our students who bring their knowledge and personal skills to local employers who, in turn, offer experience and perspective to our students. This mentoring exercise is, therefore, of mutual benefit and one which the university encourages and supports wholeheartedly", he said.

This view was supported by Fernando Sanchez-Arias who, in his talk `Mentoring and the importance of developing strong links between the business and the academic worlds', stressed the mutual benefits of projects such as this. On the one hand young people keep businesses aware of the very latest business theories and principles and provide a link to the academic world and on the other hand, the mentors provide practical advice that comes from age and experience.

This year, the DCU Alumni Association have become involved by encouraging DCU graduates to act as mentors. Each mentor meets their allocated student six times over the course of the academic year at social, motivational, learning and job shadowing events. In 2003, 35 students took part, but this figure is expected to double in 2004. The Educational Trust will provide financial support for the scheme.