Mentorship at NAIT

Mentorship is a structured (formal or informal) relationship that typically takes place between a more experienced individual and lesser experienced individual who is seeking advice, guidance, and support on a particular subject. When done right, mentorship relationships are mutually beneficial for both the mentor and mentee.  

An example would be an experienced student being a peer mentor to a new student, the peer mentee, in a particular subject, or in a new school.  

1:1 Mentorship

First-year students are matched with an upper-year mentor for personalized support. Mentees will be provided with advice, guidance and support from their mentors through regular 1:1 meetings and other forms of meet ups and matched based on academic program, shared goals, interests and personal background.  

• Peer Mentor (PM) - experienced student volunteers who support, guide and advise mentees in the same academic program with additional similar interests, to navigate the transition into NAIT life.  
• Peer Mentees - first-year students who sign up to the mentorship program because they want to seek out resources and other supports to help them be successful in their first year (and beyond!) at NAIT. 

International Peer Groups

First-year international students join a group led by an upper-year international student mentor to help reduce cultural transition stress to NAIT and Canada, while building connection. Mentors and mentees in this program are matched in a group based on the first group meet up schedule. Mentees will participate in group activities and meetups.

• International Peer Groups (IPGs) – each IPG consists of 1 International Peer Mentor and 3 to 6 student mentees who will meet at least 6 times during a semester.
• International Peer Mentors (IPMs) – senior students who volunteer to support the cultural adjustment for their Student Mentees through sharing their Canadian and NAIT experience, offering peer advice and exploring the student community.
• International Peer Mentees – students who sign up to join an IPG because they want to connect with peers and build friendships and connections during their cultural transition to Canada and participate in the IPG meetups. 

Further to the information provided, mentorship provides first-year students (mentees) with the opportunity to connect with an experienced NAIT student. Mentors help you/mentees: 

• develop academic and personal strategies to successfully transition to NAIT life and/or life in Canada.

• understand the support and services available to you for personal and academic success

• increase your feeling of connectedness and belonging with the NAIT community 

• develop friendships and personal accountability  

• learn from the advice and opinions of someone in your program with more or different experience

If you are a first-year student and aren't sure which program to sign up to be a mentee in, no problem. Our application will help guide you and find the right fit.