What is the Professional Companion programme?
The companions/mentors will help these students gain a better understanding of working life, as well as advise them on relevant academic subjects and the development of necessary soft and social skills. They will provide the students with a secure base (a safe foundation and inspiration) and access to their network by allowing the students to shadow them within the organization.
We are particularly considering professionals working at the Zuidas to take on the role of companion. Conversely, the professionals can also learn a lot by interacting with this specific group through reverse mentoring. As many companies have the ambition to build a more diverse workforce.
In the coming academic year, the program will focus on master's students from the following programs, the Dutch program: Beleid, Communicatie en Organisatie (Policy, Communication and Organization); the English programs: Culture, Organization and Management and Professional Anthropology.
- https://vu.nl/nl/onderwijs/master/beleid-communicatie-en-organisatie
- https://vu.nl/nl/onderwijs/master/culture-organization-and-management
- https://vu.nl/en/education/master/social-and-cultural-anthropology/curriculum
Many master's students from these programs are interested in a job in consulting. This sector is well represented at the Zuidas. This program will provide a win-win situation.
The program
The program is designed to last for one year. Through the app, matching will take place based on student and companion preferences, such as educational background, professional field and position, cultural background, and gender.
The VU Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL) will support the companions to ensure quality mentoring. The professional companions will receive an initial half-day workshop that will focus on their role as companions. Principles such as deep learning, reverse mentoring, being a secure base, reflection on one's own professional identity, and mentoring skills will be addressed.
The mentoring program will officially start in early November.
We opt for a light form of guidance: on a yearly basis, there will be three companion meetings and one day of shadowing at the organization, spread over six months. Nonetheless, the impact will be significant, as students will connect with a potential secure base from the field, and that relationship can continue beyond the mentoring period. The content of the meetings will be determined based on the learning needs of student and companion. Materials will be created for these meetings that both can use (such as documents/cases studies, PowerPoint slides, videos/animations) related to:
- Involving students in interesting and concrete practical cases
- Advising on soft skills important in working life, such as: collegiality and teamwork, organizational sensitivity, visibility and presentation, reflection (World Economic Forum, 2021)
- Reverse mentoring
At the end of the year, an inspiration meeting will be organized for the professional companions, where they can gain insights into how people learn and develop. One of the participating students will also give a presentation about their experiences with the program. There will also be an opportunity to meet other companions and exchange knowledge.
In the second year, master's students from the Faculty of Law will also be involved, in addition to the programs described above https://vu.nl/en/education/master/law
If there are any further questions, please contact dr. Yvette Taminiau, y.taminiau@vu.nl