Mentoring is a comprehensive guidance mechanism whereby the Mentor observes, understands and analyses the skillsets, knowledge base and practical experiences of a Mentee/Protégé and channelizes them in the right direction so that the Mentee is able to understand his goals and achieve them. The Mentor empathizes with the Mentee’s needs and aspirations. With Mentor’s support at every possible phase of a Mentee’s life, a rare kind of metamorphosis takes place in the life of the Mentee at the academic, psychological, personal, emotional and professional levels.

For a layman, the concept of mentorship may seem like a complex process at the beginning, but when the philosophy behind mentorship is realized and assimilated by the Mentors and the Mentees, the results are there for everyone to see.

Mentoring isn’t mere sharing of knowledge. Mentors help Mentees identify their own strengths and weaknesses by doing SWOT/SWOC Analysis. They help the Mentees identify their SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound) goals, encourage them, and guide them in the process of achieving their goals, or help them understand ways and means of solving any challenges that might come along the way.

Mentees/Protégés benefit from mentorship programs by:
Identifying their own strengths and opportunities.
Weakening their weaknesses and converting them into strengths.
Making use of opportunities to their advantage.
Understanding threats/challenges/fears/anxieties and overcoming them.
Setting realistic goals.
Receiving constructive feedback.
Checking the progress regularly, and
Being open to fresh ideas to accomplish their goals.

Mentorship programs are useful for everyone: for new college students who want to get accustomed to the culture of being in college and for the others who can be helped to manage time, relieve stress, progress towards reaching their goals. By offering support, and providing guidance, these programs can help the students succeed in both college and careers.

What happens at MIC?

Mentorship is an art in itself: it is not everyone’s cup of tea. It takes skill, precision, caring attitude, and amiable nature to make someone a good Mentor. Mentorship is one of the most personal and relationship-building learning experiences.

A few members of the faculty are identified to Mentor the students of the department. Each one of them has to take care of 20 students. Once a Mentor is allotted 20 Mentees to his/her care, it becomes his/her responsibility to travel with them, understand their needs and goals and channelize their energies in the way they wish to go. ‘Helping the Mentees tread the path they wish to tread’ is the primary duty of a Mentor. ‘Together we can’ is the guidance force of mentorship at its best.