Project MYFuture will create a common European methodology to implement student mentoring in HEI, because there is a great added value in introducing studentmentoring activities to strengthen social inclusion in educational pathways. Experience of six organizations in Europe (HEI’s, NGO’s and social enterprises) shows this added value; they join forces to connect their expertise and to develop innovative tools. The goal is for university students to recognize the responsibilities they have and the way they can contributing to social inclusion by becoming a role-model. The project will inspire university students to become role models for young people with less opportunities and to support them in their development; therefore they will take their responsibility for a more inclusive society. The project will also support the development of transversal skills in HE students through mentoring activities, allowing them to increase their leadership and to be effective in HE and in the labor market. Student mentors will also take part in international networking moments and in transnational learning activities on mentoring. The project will make HE staff and teachers realize the value of mentoring for students and young people's development, for inclusive educational pathways and for equality in society. HE staff will develop competences and knowledge on how to make student mentoring part of the HE curricula and how to implement more mentoring schemes within HEI. There will be impact events for policy makers to learn about the impact of mentoring on young people's lives and ultimately on social inclusion. The project is highly innovative, because it focuses on the development of a common European methodology and tools for mentoring in Higher Education to pursuit social inclusion. The impact of mentoring will make students aware of the responsibility they have in society and it will provide tools to universities to make student mentoring part of the educational offer. In Europe there is need for a broad use of mentoring for social inclusion within and beyond educational organizations and MYFuture is a fundamental step for this process. The elaborate preparation of the consortium partners showed that there has been a growing number of universities in Europe introducing mentoring activities for and by students. However, this knowledge is isolated within universities and it is mainly executed on a relatively small scale. Educational institutes seek the opportunity to take the next step in their mentoring methodology and to connect to other experts. In a mentoring relationship, students of different educational backgrounds coach and support an individual learner (elementary school children, students of secondary or vocational education ) in a one-on-one relationship. This mentoring relationship is powerful, it is based on tailor-made learning between two people. As a result, students develop their personal leadership and learn to make informed decisions for their education, career and life. This result is not just for the learners – also called mentees – but also for the studentmentors. Connecting students of different educational backgrounds and levels, contributes to a better educational path from elementary school to university. Also, increasing the international exchange and including mentoring activities in the HEI curricula provides quality in the educational offer. Furthermore, seeing that student mentoring programmes mainly focus on matching young people of different ethnic backgrounds, the project gives answers to a need for a more inclusive society and education.
Student mentoring is a powerful tool. Its goal is twofold: 1) for students to recognize responsibilities they have and contributions they can make to social inclusion by becoming a role model 2) for HEI to realize the value of mentoring for students and for young people’s development, for inclusive educational pathways and for equality in society. A growing number of universities in Europe introduce mentoring activities to pursuit social inclusion. However, this knowledge is isolated within universities and is mainly executed on a small scale. Mentor Your Future aims to provide HEI across Europe with a common methodology to implement student mentoring in higher education by: - creating awareness among university students of their role, privileged position and responsibility to become role models to other young people who struggle. - creating awareness among university students of the importance of mentoring activities for their personal and professional leadership and offer them opportunities to develop their soft skills - creating awareness among staff, teachers and policy makers in higher education of the need for student mentoring in higher education as a tool for inclusivity and offer tools to implement student mentoring.
Mentor Your Future implements student mentoring as a strategy to face the current European challenges in the context of social inclusion. European society faces a large challenge due to the ongoing polarization in society and its implications for communities. About 20% of European society is at risk of poverty and social exclusion; and there are similar risks to 40% of immigrants, as Eurostat published in 2019 (indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy). There is much tension within states about how to handle the influx and integration of new groups of people. As OECD states, education is key to the integration and to an improved future. Mentor Your Future answers the need of empowering young people throughout their educational pathway. The focus is on university students who need empowering experiences, on immigrant youth and young people with lower socio-economic background who need equal chances. Policy makers in higher education have been seeking instruments to counteract differences in educational achievement. Mentor Your Future addresses the need in European society and of higher education by further developing a methodology for student mentoring in higher education across Europe.