Staff mentoring at Aalto University

Aalto University’s first joint staff mentoring group held its opening seminar on November 5, 2008 at Otaniemi. The incentive was provided by the positive experiences from previous mentoring practices. The group includes a total of eighteen mentoring pairs. Ten of these pairs couple individuals hailing from different universities.

Mentoring is based on monthly one-on-one discussions between the mentor and the mentee. The mentoring pairs discuss pre-determined topics such as personal development at work. In addition, the mentoring group organizes three joint meetings for all participants. The second meeting will be held on March 4, 2009 at HSE. The final event will take place on June 10, 2009 at TaiK. Expert services are provided by Consultant Tuulikki Juusela, who specializes in work communities. Contact persons for the staff mentoring group are Anne Petroff (HSE), Hannele Fuhrmann (TaiK), and Helinä Jakobsson (TKK).

Mentoring involves the transfer of experience and expertise from one person to another. A more experienced and distinguished employee in a senior position (the mentor) shares his or her knowledge, experiences and vision to enhance the know-how and development of a younger employee (the mentee) who in turn is both willing and able to develop. Mentoring is a target-oriented, bilateral, interactive relationship that is based on transparency, trust and commitment. Mentoring preserves and cultivates expertise that has accumulated in the work community and further expands this knowledge through external mentors to include the entire work community.