Mentors help our students to connect

In January 2021, our team of International Student Advisors introduced a new program, designed to connect new students with current students in their first trimester of study at Torrens University Australia.

Called MentorConnect, the program aims help new students make the transition to university, and life in Australia, to build long-term friendships, and to understand how and where to find answers to any questions they have throughout their studies.

Helping students flourish

Julie Pope, an International Student Wellbeing Coordinator based at Torrens University’s Wakefield Campus in Adelaide, said just over a year since its launch, the program was going from strength to strength.

“When the program was first created, we had just 12 mentors and 6 students in the program. Now we have 68 student mentors, with another 10 in training, and just this year we have had 88 students both domestic and international onshore and offshore students join the program in Trimester 1,” said Julie.

“The wonderful thing is our mentors, like our students, are enrolled in different courses, at different campuses and are from all over the world including India, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Greek, Kenya and Columbia.”

MentorConnect offers both international offshore and onshore students beginning their studies at Torrens University the opportunity to receive one-on-one online messaging and mentoring sessions with a volunteer student mentor who has completed three trimesters of study at Torrens University.

Evan Karras, who is studying a Bachelor of Business at Wakefield Campus in Adelaide, said he became a student mentor to support other students.

“I am passionate about student engagement, and I love helping others to succeed in life. I decided to become a student mentor because I want to give back to other students and be another level of support as they make the transition to university,” said Evan, who is also Vice President of the SRC in Adelaide.

Connection is the key to success

Julie said being able to connect with someone who had walked in their shoes was a huge benefit to new students.

“The first trimester at university can be daunting, especially if you’ve moved to a new city or country to study, or you are navigating the ins and outs of online learning,” said Julie.

“The peer-to-peer support provided by the MentorConnect program can really help set our students up for success as they begin their journey at Torrens University Australia or Think Education.”

Find out more about the MentorConnect Program here.