Mentorship Training on Westville Campus

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The DSRA-Residence Life Office on UKZN’s Westville campus hosted mentorship training for its residence-based mentors.

It is hoped that the training given will assist the Residence Life Office in addressing immediate and intermediate socio-academic issues troubling students in their residences.

The training was structured around four major themes - principles of mentorship, characteristics of mentors, implementation process, study skills and time management.

Residence Assistant Ms Nomfundo Ndlovu was the facilitator and the programme began with an evaluation of the understanding of students about the characteristics of good and weak mentors.

Mr Kwanele Xulu, a master’s student and an Academic Mentor in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, facilitated a session on the Principles of Mentorship.

‘Mentorship must develop the ability to navigate new waters rather than making mentees depend on mentors who should serve as guides not as fountains of answers,’ said Xulu. ‘Self-management is the vital skill that a mentor should have - it is important that mentors take care of themselves before serving others.’

Dr Bongumezi Mbatha facilitated a session on the characteristics of successful mentorship, including the role of mentorship in a student’s socio-academic life. Mbatha shared some of his experiences as a person from a rural background who had difficulty in adjusting to the city and a demanding academic routine, identifying what he believes are vital characteristics of a successful mentorship and the role of mentees in the process.

An Academic Development Officer (ADO) in the Department of Physiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, Ms Asiphaphola Ludidi, facilitated a session on the implementation process of a mentorship programme, stressing the importance of mentor-student relations. The discussion centred around the strategies mentors might employ in establishing respectful, cordial and socially sustainable relationships with their mentees, and vice-versa.

Ms Mbalentle Mbuyeleni, a peer academic mentor in the College of Law and Management Studies, spoke on study skills and time management, saying that besides intellect, time was the second most important asset for an individual. Mbuyeleni also led a discussion on study skills.

Residence Assistant Mr Anele Ntozake concluded the event by summarising other residence mentor skills in line with residence rules.

Reflecting on the training, a third-year Biological Sciences student Ms Amahle Mbongwa, said: ‘I have learned that I need to be a good guide to students through listening, being approachable, non-judgemental and displaying good self-management.’ Another mentor, Mr Sandile Gabuza, a third-year Computer and IT student, said: ‘The characteristics of mentorship are very important and include qualities such as being honest, upholding confidentiality, being supportive, non-discriminative, responsible and a leader.’

The overall organiser of the event and DSRA Residence Life Officer Mr Syanda Ndlovu thanked the Residence Life team for planning the programme. He concluded saying they hoped to equip mentors and students with skills to become foundations and fountains of wisdom for students in residences.

Residence Life Coordinator Ms Lerato Khoali said part of the Residence Life Office’s responsibilities was to equip students with the skills they did not get to actively learn in class and develop them.

‘It is through residence mentorship and academic support that mentees experience a sense of belonging and being connected and improve their study habits as well as their academic performance,’ added Khoali.

Words and photograph: DSRA Residence Life Office