In furtherance of the mentorship role in Phase II of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Women in Science, Technology, and Mathematics (WiSTEM) and MCFSP at KNUST has held a ‘Mentors and Mentees Welcome Program’ at the Great Hall.
The meeting, held on 21st January 2022, was to bring mentors and mentees together to discuss the mentoring process, achievements, challenges, and the way forward.
Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Badu, Secretary, WiSTEM-KNUST and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry explain the roles, expectations of mentors, mentees, and coordinators. She stated that the main aim of the mentorship program is to see mentees excel in various disciplines which include academics, social, and religious lives. In this line, she entreated the mentees to take the initiative in the relationship, invite their mentors to meet, suggest topics to discuss, and communicate through email, phone calls, and in-person.
The Secretary for WiSTEM-KNUST encouraged the females to freely address their confusions, concerns, successes, alternatives, and ideas with their mentors.
She further underlined the roles of mentors which include listening and motivating mentees to set achievable goals. Also, mentors are expected to give constructive feedback and advice, facilitate the growth of the mentee by sharing resources and networks.
Dr. Badu outlined the terms of reference of Coordinators. She further defined their roles, responsibilities, and what is expected of them.
According to Professor (Mrs.) Ibok Oduro, the President of WiSTEM-KNUST underlined the importance of the mentor-mentee relationship. She tasked the mentees and mentors to go the extra mile and make the most out of the relationship that exist between them to ensure success.
The Lead and Principal Investigator (PI) for the MCFSP at KNUST, Professor Kofi Owusu-Daako giving an overview of the Scholars Program at KNUST assured that the Program continues to ensure that brilliant yet financially challenged young Africans especially females, displaced youth, and persons with disability are admitted into the Program devoid of any biases.
Dr. Sandra Kwarteng moderated participants to share their expectations of the program and explored another mentoring process in teaching, social life, and staying on campus.