CEMENT Culture of External MENToring

1. CEMENT Culture of External MENToring Dr Fiona Grant School of the Built Environment Heriot Watt University

2. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Presentation Outline • Introduction – starting position • Creating the CEMENT initiative • Achievements • Feedback – Students; mentors; university and professional bodies Students Clare Robertson and Joe Smithyman pictured with their CEMENT mentor Paul Corson (centre).

3. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Introduction – starting position

4. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Main objectives STUDENT

5. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Creating the CEMENT initiative • Involvement of HWU Careers and Alumni • Sponsorship from RICS Scotland and Morgan Sindall • Promoting the CEMENT initiative to students • Growing the relationship with mentors and industry

6. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Pushing the button – blast off! • Allocating students (80) and mentors (33) • Introductory e-mail introducing students and mentors • Follow up in class to push contact. • Interim Feedback undertaken – questionnaire • Students class and peer discussions encouraging momentum – the more you put it the more you get back. • Questions from other subject discipline students in SBE – why can’t we get this too?

7. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Feedback Students and Mentors My mentor has been more than accommodating at responding to requests for information and a chance to meet and chat about his experience. We have recently had a day out and visited the head office and various current contract sites. The experience was invaluable and has possibly opened the opportunity to some Easter and summer work experience. Studentt

8. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Feedback Students and Mentors I had a meeting with my mentor which went very well, he has offered to meet up every fortnight on site and will set some tasks. He was very positive about the mentor scheme and had a welcoming attitude towards me. I believe that I will benefit from the external influence and am looking forward to the experience. Studentt

9. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Feedback Students and Mentors Excellent communication with students, he is very interested and is already looking at life beyond university and is asking how the modules he is studying relate to the industry. Mentort The CEMENT programme I have found to be very useful for both the mentor and student. I introduce the student to e-mailing lists for invitations to seminars which are valuable for learning and networking. Mentort

10. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Rewards so far.......... • Increased site visit opportunities • Summer work placements • Industry Liaison Advisory Group - renewed momentum • Higher profile of Construction Management and Surveying students. • Feedback – Students; mentors; university and professional bodies

11. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Achievements –feedback suggests

12. Dr Fiona Grant f.grant@hw.ac.uk Moving forward......... • Repeat for 2011/12 academic year with new cohort of students. • Expand the CEMENT initiative to include postgraduate students • Positive return in NSS results • Strengthening relation ship with industry and professional bodies • Other disciplines in School piloting the initiative in 2011/12