International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
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International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Acknowledgements The production and publication of the International Student Mentoring Program Handbook would not be possible without all our contributors. Many thanks to: Editor Tiffany P. Monorom (International Students Director) 2017 & 2018 Contributors Suchara Fernando (President) 2018 Bryce Robinson (President) 2017 Eddie Stewart (First-Year Officer) 2017 Sponsor Herbert Smith Freehills Design Conor Tarpey (Publications and IT Director) 2018 Printing Bytes ‘N Colours’ Sources Images from Unsplash Inspirations from Australia Council for the Arts Guide to Mentoring & Planning Institute Australia Mentoring Program
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International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Table of Contents International Student Director’s Welcome
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President’s Welcome
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Introduction
5 5 5 5 6 6 7 7
About The Program What Is Mentoring? Benefits Of Mentoring Roles And Responsibilities Participant’s Eligibility Recruitment Process Code of Conduct
Activities
Suggested Methods of Engagement
8 8 8 10
Guidelines For Closure
11
Beyond The Program
Program Coordinator
12 12 12 12 12
Appendix A: Weekly Themes
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One-On-One Suggested Framework
Feedback What People Have Said Acknowledgement
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International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
International Student Director’s Welcome My name is Tiffany P. Monorom and I am the International Students Director for the Australian National University Law Students’ Society (ANU LSS). On behalf of the ANU LSS, thank you for choosing to participate in the 2018 International Student Mentoring Program. We hope that this experience will be rewarding for both the mentor and mentee. Through the International Student Mentoring Program, the LSS aims to assist international students in making a successful transition into law school and for mentors to develop valuable leadership skills and to enhance personal growth through mentoring. We understand that not all international students have access to or are aware of the resources available at the ANU and the ANU College of Law. The LSS seeks to fill this gap by offering support within a personal capacity. With that in mind, I hope that this Handbook will provide you with the resources you need to make the most of the program and hopefully build a long-lasting relationship with your mentee/mentor. In creating this Handbook, we have drawn on various resources such as previous version of this Handbook and other Mentoring Program Handbooks published by other institutions. I would like to thank all contributors for their hard work in bringing it all together: Suchara Fernando, Conor Tarpey, Bryce Robinson, and Eddie Stewart. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Herbert Smith Freehills for their support in the Program and their ongoing engagement with the ANU Law Students’ Society. In conclusion, I would like to present the 2018 International Student Mentoring Program Handbook and feel free to contact me should you have any questions.
Tiffany P. Monorom International Students Director ANU Law Student’s Society lssinternational@anu.edu.au
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International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
President’s Welcome On behalf of the ANU Law Students’ Society (LSS), I would like to warmly welcome you to the 2018 International Student Mentoring Program. The LSS is committed to better representing international students within the ANU Law School community and to this end is excited to launch the International Students Mentoring Program in 2018. This program was created in acknowledgment of the unique challenges faced by international students studying law. Since 2017, Tiffany Monorom has worked hard to get this program off the ground. In 2018, we both hope that this program grows from strength to strength. In particular, we hope that both mentees and mentors can take away something useful to hold on to during their law degree and their career. I hope that participants will be able to experience the full value of this mentoring program. This program is not only an opportunity to gain practical advice but also build interpersonal skills. Mentoring programs also help develop strategies for dealing with personal and academic issues. Finally, this program will provide its participants with unique networking opportunities. If you have any concerns, would like to get involved with the LSS, or have suggestions for things we could do to make your experience at the ANU College of Law even better, please get in touch. Finally, I would like to thank Herbert Smith Freehills for their ongoing support and generosity with this Program and with the ANU Law Students Society. I wish you all the best of luck with the mentoring program!
Suchara Fernando President ANU Law Student’s Society lss@anu.edu.au
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International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Introduction About The Program
Benefits Of Mentoring
The International Student Mentoring Program is a program designed to assist international students for better transition into law school. Mentors are students who have successfully adjusted to law school and can give mentees advice on studying law at the ANU. We understand that moving to a new country is a challenging experience for most international students and it may take them some time to adjust to Australia’s cultural, social and academic differences. Pairing mentors and mentees effectively is a key aspect of a successful mentoring program, which is why participants will be hand-selected as according to their preferences. We will not pair a mentee with a mentor where their goals and expectations of the program do not align. Mentors and mentees are matched on a one-on-one basis and we advise that both participants commit to the same mentor or mentee for the entire semester. This encourages them to develop a mentoring relationship on a personal level and establishes a foundation where assistance is available when needed.
Participating in a mentoring program is mutually beneficial for both mentors and mentees:
What Is Mentoring?
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According to the National Mentoring Association of Australia, mentoring is “a mutually beneficial relationship which involves a more experienced person helping a less experienced person to achieve their goals”. However, we believe there is much more to the mentoring relationship. It is one based upon mutual trust and respect, open-mindedness, encouragement, constructive feedback and a willingness to learn and share. As such, the LSS expects all participants to get into the spirit of mentoring, that is making a genuine effort to engage with your partner.
Mentors: • Develop leadership and management skills; • Strengthens your own skills and knowledge of the subject matter • Improve communication and personal skills; • Gain valued volunteering opportunity; and • Enhance your resume • Increase personal growth and a sense of fulfilment Mentees: • Gain practical advice, support and encouragement; • Learn from other people’s experiences; • Develop your social, academic and personal skills; • Set realistic goals and establish a sense of direction; • Become more confident and motivated; • Make new friends across year levels
International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Roles and Responsibilities
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Mentors: The mentor’s role is to listen deeply, share their experience, ask difficult questions, encourage the mentee to clarify themselves, and affirm the mentee.
Particpant’s Eligibility
Mentors: Mentors will ideally have experience in mentoring but is not a necessary requirement to become a mentor in this program. Most importantly, mentors have the desire to help others and it is this willingness to help others Listen: Listen attentively and provide con- that outweighs any academic credentials or structive feedback. motivation for profit. Share: Share your own life experiences that However, it is required that mentors are at are most relevant to the mentee’s situation. least in their second year of their law degree before undertaking their position in the proChallenge: Ask thought provoking ques- gram. tions, aiming toward the mentee’s ambitions. Mentors come from a variety of backClarify: Encourage the mentee to be clear grounds, but their character and ethical valabout decisions, goals and philosophy. ues are shared by all. These shared values are important in promoting achievement Affirm: Value and endorse the mentee. and inspiring positive attitudes among all law students. Mentees: To make the most of the mentorship, menLeading by example is a great opportunitees should take appropriate responsibilty to become a positive influence. Sharing ity to speak up if there is an issue, and to positive and negative life experiences with be open to change and challenges. This mentees is helpful and easier for them to can be done through mutual respect and grasp the principles that mentors believe in self-reflection, signifying the ability to set goals and take actions. Mentees: Take responsibility: Speak up if there is Mentees are international students who find an issue, aiming for a successful mentordifficulties adjusting to the cultural, social ship. and academic aspects of living in Australia. Mentees actively seek guidance and supBe open: Be open to change, challenges, port from their mentors and do so in a reopinions, and ideas. spectful and professional manner. Reflect: Regularly reflect on what you have Mentees are eager to learn and willing to learnt and what you want to inquire next. work with their mentors to set up goals in order to achieve their desired result through Respect: Respect the experience, views the mentoring program. and insights of the mentors. Set goals: Identify short-term and longterm goals. Act: Take actions on set goals.
International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Recruitment Process
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Code Of Conduct
Like any professional and academic environment, mentors and mentees are to act ethically and respectfully toward one another. Discussions are confidential and You may choose to be involved in the pro- we expect participants to behave appropriately at all times. Inappropriate conduct gram again in semester 2 with the same mentor/mentee from semester 1 if you such as harassment or discrimination is notify the program coordinator prior to the strictly prohibited. Such behaviours will result in suspension from the program and semester 2 recruitment date. may be the subject of complaint to the relevant regulatory body. You may also choose to terminate your involvement with the program at the end The Australian National University’s Code of each semester. of Conduct and related policies can be The application form will be posted on found online through this link: https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/rethe LSS’s Facebook Page and website. spect-inclusion/code-of- conduct Note that there will be separate application forms for mentors and mentees. The LSS recruits mentors and mentees at the beginning of semester 1 and semester 2.
Activities International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
One-On-One
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A positive relationship between mentor and mentee is essential to the success of a mentoring program and for mentees to have genuine support at the start of their university career. The best way for mentors and mentees to develop such a meaningful relationship in the International Student Mentoring Program is through one-on-one contact. It is for this reason that the program will regularly run on a one mentor to one mentee basis from week to week. It is understandable that people have different commitments and separate daily schedules, so it is only required that you have one meeting per week for at least 30 minutes. Meetings are what you make of them. It will be up to the mentor and mentee to decide the best method to engage in the program. See some of our suggested methods on page 10. We cannot stress enough the importance of genuine, face- to-face contact and we hope that our suggested framework outlines how this is best established. Suggested Framework The following is only a suggested framework for participants to follow throughout the mentoring program. You may choose to follow the framework or create your own mentoring framework.
It can be quite daunting for both the mentor and mentee to arrange their first meeting. Therefore, we advise that you start off with a casual meet-up— a coffee or a meal at the pop-up village, for example. Once you have decided on a meeting time and place, the most important thing for establishing a fun and supportive relationship between mentor and mentee is getting to know each other first. If you find yourself in an awkward situation, talk about why you are interested in the mentoring program and what you want out of the program or any similar struggles that you have had as a university student. Once you feel more at ease with each other, you may begin to establish your expectations and goals in the program to ensure a successful mentorship in the long run. It is understandable that both participants will inevitably have different commitments so the best way would be to determine how, where and when meetings will take place in future weeks. One idea would be to make a schedule outlining your plan for the rest of the semester, keeping in mind when (if at all) you will be travelling outside Canberra and working your meetings around these dates. If either mentor or mentee is unavailable for one week during the program, arrange a Skype, FaceTime or phone call at some point.
Stage 1: Discussing Expectations and Goals Mentors and mentees should discuss their expectations and goals in their first meeting in order to establish the foundations of the mentorship. The program coordinator will provide mentors and mentees with contact details so you can arrange your first meeting, which commences in week 3. We strongly advise that the first meeting is organised upon the completion of the Induction Module. It is up to both participants as to the method by which you can maintain contact such as via email, text messages or Facebook.
International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
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Stage 2: Establishing the Relationship Subsequent meetings should be focusing on mentees addressing their issues and mentors providing advice and encouragements. See Appendix A for weekly themes on page 14 that is relevant to international students (that may or may not be specifically relevant to law students). For mentees, try to think about how the theme relates to your experience at university and your goals and aspirations in Australia. If you are unsure about anything or you have questions, ask your mentor - they will either be able to help you directly or refer you to someone who can. For mentors, do the same, but think of advice that you might give to your mentee - is there something you would’ve done differently had you the chance? What would you like to have known about the topic when you were in your mentee’s position? If you find that neither participant has a lot to say regarding the theme and that the mentee does not have any general queries, try to find a common interest to have a chat about - sports, food, gaming etc. Even if mentees do not need any advice and mentors have limited advice to give, it is important to keep maintaining the relationship as you only meet once a week. Stage 3: Examining the Progress In week 7, the program coordinator will be in touch with all participants about any progress made in the program and whether there were any issues experienced by either mentor or mentee. The following are some issues to think about prior to getting contacted by the program coordinator: Regularity of meetings: Are you both attending and organising meetings? Addressing themes: Are you both referring to weekly themes and discussing them? General conversation: Did you experience any awkward silence and blanks during meetings?
General meetings: Are you enjoying yourself at meetings? Are you comfortable? Are you dissatisfied with your mentor/mentee in any capacity? Others: Have there been any disputes worth mentioning? Any information shared with the program coordinator will be strictly confidential and we advise that you remain as honest as possible when discussing your relationship with your mentor/mentee. Stage 4: Wrapping Up By the end of the semester, you will hopefully have established a friendship that may last throughout the rest of your university days and we hope that this ‘final meeting’ is not actually your last. However, it is still very important that you conclude the program well and to do this, we advise arranging a special occasion for your last meeting together. If you have been having coffee together regularly, perhaps this can be a more adventurous meeting - a bush walk or a jog together, for instance. If you are both avid sports fans, maybe consider attending a game together. If you have been adventurous throughout the program and hiked up every mountain in Canberra and ran around the lake a thousand times, maybe pick something more relaxed and settled. There is no obligation to arrange a special occasion like this, but we strongly recommend doing so.
International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Suggested Method of Engagement
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It is up to both participants to organise a method of engagement to keep the program interesting. Our suggested methods below are a good starting point. Classic Meeting each other for a coffee, brunch or any meal at the pop-up village would be the easiest and most ideal way for those who are on tight schedules at university. Although it may be easy, this doesn’t mean you can’t get a lot out of it - some of the best conversation happens over a good coffee. Another idea to consider is maybe to organise a new place to go each week and judge which cafe has the best coffee. Feeling adventurous If you enjoy a more outdoor scene, bush walking might be an idea to consider. There are many places in the surrounds of Canberra where you can hike or walk through the bush. One of the best locations is Black Mountain – it is located close to ANU and it is a rewarding challenge if you want to hike to the lookout. Any of the other ‘mountains’ in Canberra - Mt Ainslie, Red Hill, Mt Stromlo - are also great options for a challenging hike. Make sure you pack sufficient water and food and also conduct a bit of research about the trails first before you head off for a hike. Seg Glide Ride in Parkes (suburb in inner south) offers segways for hire around the lake. This is more likely to be a one-off meeting as it costs around $40 for a half an hour trip ($60 for full hour), but it’s definitely worth the cost! Located right next to ANU, the Botanic gardens is a perfect spot suitable for anyone who loves flora or the outdoors, or anyone that needs a quick break from campus. It is free to enter and stays open from 8:30AM to 5PM daily. There is also a cafe open from 9AM3PM every day if you feel like a coffee or quick bite to eat.
Sporty If you feel like sweating off some stress from university, a quick sport game or exercise may be a great way to start. We suggest running or cycling around the lake, using ANU gym for basketball, weights, futsal or badminton or using ANU ovals for ball sports or Frisbee. Volunteer Volunteer together for a great cause— either working at the animal shelter or advocating for human rights or helping with recreational activities at a local hospital. Contact ANU+, ANU Volunteering Society or Volunteering ACT for available opportunities. Attend LSS’s Events While it is important to try all the above so you and your partner can gain better interaction and increase effective communication with each other, it can get quite repetitive. As such, the LSS has arranged a variety of social events, speaker panels and other form of engagements throughout the year. Attending these events together is not only entertaining but also academically beneficial for the both of you.
International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Guidelines For Closure
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It is understandable that a mentor or mentee may require that the mentorship end before the end of the program. However, the following guidelines will be strictly followed:
In the case of non-mutual early closure the closing party may request the program coordinator to inform their mentor or mentee, or they may inform their mentor or mentee themselves.
Either party may close the mentorship at any point during the pro- A mentor or mentee may elect to gram, if: stay in the program if their partner closes the mentorship early, if: • program coordinators are notified of closure 48 hours before next • both parties of another mentorship allow that mentor or mentee scheduled meeting. to join them, or; • another mentor or mentee is available on the program wait list, (in the case of multiple possible mentors or mentees, they will be selected according to the criteria used at the beginning of the program)
International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Beyond The Program
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Feedback Running this program for the second time means that there is still room for improvement and so we welcome feedback from both mentors and mentees regarding the program. We want to know what worked and what can be improved in order to help shape how the program will run in the future. The LSS will issue a comprehensive feedback to mentors and mentees upon completion of the program.
“I really enjoyed the LSS Mentoring Program because of all the really reassuring advice and stories from my wonderful mentor Emma. Coming from overseas to do Law, I had a lot of worries and concerns that nobody could answer. But getting to talk to Emma, an international law student about to finish her degree, really helped reassure me and answer my questions. Now I am much more confident in my future with the law degree and what I can do with it” - Siang Jin Law (2nd year Laws/ PPE mentee)
What People Have Said “I loved the program. It was more than Acknowledgement meaningful to be a mentor and I’d love to do it again next year.” - Emma Jang (final The LSS would like to extend our gratiyear Laws/Arts mentor) tude to the mentors for contributing to the program by offering your time and effort to “The experience of the program was very help international students to make a sucrewarding. The program was well-organ- cessful transition to law school. ised, provided a new opportunity to form a relationship between mentor and men- We hope that you find the mentoring protee, and my mentee and I were very well- gram a valuable experience and that stumatched by program coordinators. I would dents who benefit from the mentoring probe very interested in continuing in the pro- gram will consider returning to the program gram.” - Madelyn Attwood (3rd year Laws/ to mentor others. International Relations mentor) “Highly recommend it! You’ll meet very Program Coordinator friendly mentors here. A good opportunity to make friends and seek some help- Tiffany P. Monorom ful guidance on your first year of study” - LSS International Students Director Noah Dai (Exchange student from Beijing) The Australian National University lssinternational@anu.edu.au
International Student Mentoring Program Handbook 2018
Appendix A: Weekly Themes Please note that the following topics are suggestions only. You need not follow them in any particular order. You might not even use any or all of the topics but if you do, be mindful of any academic integrity issues. For mentors, avoid supplying mentees with any past written essays or direct exam responses. You may, however go through any specific problem questions with mentees or explain essay questions in simpler words. You can read more about academic misconduct and related policies here: https://law. anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/academic-integrity-misconduct Main Theme: Academic Help Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5 Topic 6
HIRAC Prepare Study Notes For Exams Essay Writing Strategies Research Skills And Referencing Tutorial Participation Presentation
Main Theme: Career Development Topic 1
Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5 Topic 6
Why are you studying law? What area of law are you looking to practice or are you thinking of practicing at all? Any current casual or part-time job? How to be more involved with the university community Resume and cover letter how-to Networking Skills and qualities employers look for
Main Theme: Mental Health and Illness Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5 Topic 6
Coping with homesickness Dealing with stress and anxiety Culture shock and adaptations Work-life balance Time management Eating healthy
Main Theme: Miscellaneous Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5
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Topic 6
What’s up with Canberra’s weather? Are there roadworks again? Cooking abilities (instant noodles don’t count!) Are you a sports fan? What clubs and societies are you currently involved with? Or are looking to join? Places you have visited or wish to visit