On 24 September, the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) has hosted a Staff Mentoring Program (SMP) Luncheon Gathering at the Faculty Club, bringing together new faculty members and experienced colleagues for an afternoon of connection, exchange, and mutual learning.

The SMP pairs first-year academic staff with experienced colleagues to support their transition into BNBU and foster their professional growth.

Participants at the Staff Mentoring Program Luncheon Gathering

Dr. Vivien Wai-Wan CHAN, Director of the CTL, began the event with a warm welcome to the participants. Professor Edith May-Yee YAN, Education Developer at CTL, further introduced the SMP program with ice-breaker quizzes, noting that the SMP works well when mentors and mentees set expectations together, meet regularly, and learn from each other.

Dr. Vivien CHAN welcomes participants to the gathering

During the luncheon gathering, new faculty members and their mentors engaged in warm conversations and discussions. Dr. Yuanyi MAO, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences, shared, “As a new teacher like me who has just joined BNBU and is still finding my footing, this was a huge help. I talked with my senior mentor about some of my teaching concerns and asked for advice on how to handle certain issues. My mentor was incredibly sincere and shared a lot of teaching experience with me without reservation.”

Mentors and Mentees exchange ideas and experiences

Held on campus, this semester’s SMP gathering provided a relaxed setting for mentoring pairs to share experiences and support each other’s professional development. CTL is committed to creating more opportunities for faculty members to connect, share and grow.