The Dalyell Academic Mentoring Program allows high achieving students to enhance their employability skills and prepares Dalyell Scholars for future career opportunities. This year-long program is tailored for students in their second year of study and students are assigned academic mentors.
What is it like to be part of the Dalyell Scholars program?
Dr Sandra Alday, Director of the Business Dalyell Program, spearheads the inaugural Academic Mentoring Program and facilitated the first academic mentoring preparation session. A thought-provoking question was proposed, encouraging students to think about what they would like to achieve after working 80,000 hours - the standard amount of time one spends working over a lifetime, according to academic research at Oxford.
Dr Alday championed students to reflect on their personal values and big dreams. The topic was brought into life in the group critical reflective activity, where fellow Dalyell Scholars shared their career visions, what they would want to achieve in ten years and how they could change society in the future.
The mentoring preparation sessions facilitate eye-opening activities and provides a unique opportunity to bond with fellow Dalyell scholars and Academics. These sessions give students a starting point to plan questions and discussions with meetings with academic mentors.
“Here, we are encouraged to dream big and set our eyes on the Northern Star. In this intellectually stimulating environment, we are given space to discuss our thoughts, find new perspectives and share experiences to inspire others. In the mentoring sessions, we talk, laugh and grow.” - Dalyell Scholar.
After the Academic Mentoring Preparation session, students are given the time to engage with their assigned academic mentors in small group discussions. However, this week was different - all of the students gathered in the same room, socialising with all the Academic Mentors.
“The Dalyell Scholar program invites all of us to be friends. We stood together, made friendly jokes, debated on current issues and laughed it off in the end.” - Dalyell Scholar.
The night ended with a climactic moment, with the Dalyell Scholars all thrilled to have Professor Gregory Whitwell, the University of Sydney Business School Dean, join the evening. With a warm smile and invigorating words, Professor Whitwell encouraged all the Dalyell Scholars to seize every opportunity to take part in university activities, learn from mentors and fellow students, and expand their social networks.
Written by Alyssa Wong and Eleni Chen.
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