Project that ‘guides’ young people

The “Mentoring Project” (Student Mentor), which has been continuing for 7 years to accelerate the adaptation process of new students to the campus at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), did not slow down this year. 181 student mentors were selected among the young people of IUE studying in the second, third and fourth grades, within the scope of the project. Student mentors were paired with 2,427 young people who started education this year, 67 of which are foreign nationals. Stating that the project, which was initiated by the Alumni Relations Office for the first time in the Aegean Region, was taken as a role model by many universities in Turkey, Özge Kulaçoğlu, Coordinator of IUE Alumni Relations Office, said, “We have helped 12 thousand students since 2015 with our exemplary project that enables young people who have just started university to develop socially and increase their self-confidence.”

THEY RECEIVED COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING   

The student mentors, who took part in the Mentoring Project, which will continue until the end of the first semester at Izmir University of Economics, went through a comprehensive training process. 181 student mentors selected among more than 400 applicants were informed about all units at the University; received training on many subjects including how to treat friends and how to provide a communication method. Mentors will introduce their departments to young people who have just started university during the semester, and will provide detailed information about the opportunities on campus. Mentors will help students to be active by participating in activities through social clubs.

STUDENTS ARE AT THE CENTER OF ALL PROJECTS

Reminding that the 2022-2023 Academic Year started on October 3, IUE Alumni Relations Office Coordinator Özge Kulaçoğlu said that the first face-to-face meeting of mentors and new students took place on this date. Pointing out that the project continues to grow every year, Kulaçoğlu said, “We want new students to get to know the University as soon as possible, so that they get the best education by taking advantage of all the opportunities offered to them. While doing all this, we want them to meet not only with people from their own departments or the same age, but also with all students studying at the University, and to establish strong social communication. The mentoring project is a project that includes all of these criteria and puts students at its center at every stage. Positive feedback from the students is an indication of how accurate and effective a project we have undertaken. We wish success to all students in the new semester, and I would like to state that we will continue to come together in many projects throughout the year, not just mentoring.”