College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences

Student-Alumni Mentoring Program (StAMP)

Welcome to the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences’ (HASS) Student-Alumni Mentoring Program (StAMP).

StAMP connects final year students with Flinders alumni who have relevant industry experience and are willing to share their advice, knowledge and experiences – preparing students for their chosen career.

Mentors will enjoy the opportunity to help increase a student’s confidence and knowledge as well as developing their leadership and communication skills.

Mentees will benefit from the support and advice of experienced alumni in developing an understanding of the culture, opportunities and challenges of their intended profession.

Benefits of Mentoring

Mentoring can be a very rewarding experience. It helps individuals achieve their personal aspirations and goals in the workplace and aids in attaining a state of well-being. Mentoring can provide clear benefits to both mentee and mentor.

As a mentor you will be:

developing your interpersonal skills
contributing to the future of your sector/industry
growing and developing as a professional
enjoying a sense of purpose by giving to others.

Our student mentees will be:

accessing impartial advice and encouragement from a sector/industry role model
supported in their transition from studying to the workplace
developing their pre-professional identity
improving self-confidence and interpersonal skills
identifying areas for professional growth, goal setting
building professional networks.

Read about Matt and Fraser’s mentorship

Pre-Professional Identity (PPI)

An individual develops a ‘pre-professional identity’ when they gain an understanding of, and connection with, the skills, qualities, conduct, culture and ideology of their intended profession”.*

For higher education students it means transitioning from an identity constructed around being a student and beginning to develop a professional identity before they have graduated.

_{*Denise Jackson (2016) “Re-conceptualising graduate employability: the importance of pre-professional identity”, Higher Education Research & Development, 35:5, p. 925.}

Why is this important?

Students who have developed a PPI have practical exposure to their intended profession that creates awareness of the responsibilities, standards and expectations of, and commences socialisation into, that profession.

They can demonstrate increased work-readiness through this exposure and through the practice of behaviours, and development of values and attitudes, appropriate to the workplace. Additionally, students with a PPI have more self-awareness, are ahead in developing their critical learning skills, and have aligned their values to those of their intended profession.

Students who have developed a PPI have increased self-esteem, greater confidence in a professional culture, and can demonstrate the application of skills and knowledge to different contexts, which contributes to their employability.**

_{**Denise Jackson (2016) “Re-conceptualising graduate employability: the importance of pre-professional identity”, Higher Education Research & Development, 35:5, p. 926-930.}

How do students develop their PPI?

Professional mentoring is a valuable professional development exercise that provides the mentee with personalised support and encouragement, impartial advice, and unique insights from an industry insider. StAMP may the first step on a lifelong professional mentoring journey for Flinders students.

Flinders students can also develop their pre-professional identity by engaging in activities such as work integrated learning, joining a professional association, networking and more.

Work Integrated Learning is a great opportunity to develop a hands-on understanding of your chosen profession. It also provides a chance to develop strategies for achieving professional goals with a realistic outlook, and bridge the cultural gap between classroom and workplace. Email CHASS Placements to find out more.

The Flinders Careers & Employability Service and the Flinders Horizon Award are a great resource for improving your employability and gaining exposure to employers, and enhancing specific professional skills, and your participation in HASS StAMP can be credited towards a Horizon Award.

Networking is a critical career skill which can help you develop and expand your network. Take every opportunity to network with alumni, your peers and people working in your intended profession. Join student clubs, professional associations and interact with the local community through volunteering in your field of interest. All of these activities increase your workplace literacy, improve your understanding of the practices and behaviours of your intended profession, and increase your networks and professional confidence. Contact the StAMP Program Coordinator for tips and advice on effective networking by emailing chass.operations@flinders.edu.au with the subject HASS StAMP.

Find out more

For Mentors

For Students

Hear from our mentors and mentees

What is StAMP?

Hear from a few of our current mentors and students in the program about how their experience has been so far.

Hear from our mentors and mentees

Meet the mentors

We are incredibly proud of the mentors who have volunteered to be involved in our StAMP mentoring program. The mentors are all Flinders University graduates who were once in the very position the student is currently in – on the cusp of leaving Flinders and launching their career. They are ready to impart their wealth of knowledge and experience to help students achieve their study and future career goals.

Meet the Mentors