Hong Kong’s first Postgraduate Mentorship Programme continues to make significant strides
Recognised as the second best university in the world for quality education by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, Lingnan not only brings a unique blend of classroom learning and practical experience to workplace cultures, but also leverages its extensive network of thought leaders to strengthen interactions and help students shine in their academic and professional journeys.
The Lingnan University Postgraduate Mentorship Programme, a joint flagship programme of the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs, Lingnan University Postgraduate Alumni Association, and the School of Graduate Studies, welcomes its second cohort of pair-ups spanning over 15 career fields such as AI, big data, art, finance, health management, digital marketing, and sports.
This first-of-its-kind mentoring service for postgraduate students among Hong Kong universities has had a 25 per cent leap in the numbers of mentors and mentees over the past inaugural year, demonstrating the mutual benefits and abounding opportunities for young job seekers.
Toris Chen Yingzhen, a master’s student in Health and Social Services Management at Lingnan, would like to go into social welfare, especially for young people and children, in Hong Kong after graduation, and considers the programme conducive to establishing her future development paths.
“My mentor is a registered nurse and social worker with considerable experience working in Hong Kong’s public hospitals. He has told me about different posts and types of work in social welfare, and that has shaped my development paths, and given me a comprehensive understanding of how social welfare works here.”
Toris sees taking part in internships and volunteering as her bridge to a social community in need. “Mentors can draw on their own experience to make suggestions to realise our ambition, and recommend practical ways to help us succeed in the highly competitive job market.”
Toris Chen Yingzhen is a mentee of Lingnan University’s Postgraduate Mentorship Programme.
Both Toris and Li Yang, who is doing a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics, look beyond the mentor-mentee relationship, and hope to learn about life and goals as well as getting professional guidance.
“I’m hoping for a close relationship that will last even after graduation - we are all equal, enthusiastic, and share a common goal,” but Li says that the workplace culture in Hong Kong, which often uses the Cantonese dialect, is very different from that of Mainland China, and challenging for non-local graduates. “We can exchange ideas about living in Hong Kong, and, more practically, how to stand out when applying for a job without being fluent in Cantonese.”
He thinks Hong Kong currently offers better prospects in data science and artificial intelligence than elsewhere, and plans to stay on and work here after completing his postgraduate degree. “Employees in Hong Kong companies have a strong interpersonal boundaries, which my mentor will help me navigate.”
The second Postgraduate Mentorship Programme has been in full swing since some 200 mentors and postgraduate mentees attended the opening ceremony on 20 January.
Among the enthusiastic initiators of the programme is Ms Carrie Leung Ka-lai, who not only chairs Lingnan University’s Career Development Committee, but also serves as a member of the University Council and Court. With her extensive experience in human resources and capacity building for the banking industry, Ms Leung is a prominent figure in this field. She recognises the significance of providing students a platform to develop confidence in career planning and the workplace.
“We aim to empower current postgraduate students, particularly those from diverse backgrounds around the world. Our mentorship programme introduces mentees to a multitude of career possibilities, equips them with the latest job skills and industry knowledge, and provides opportunities to expand their professional networks,” says Ms Leung.
She appreciates the dedicated efforts of the mentors, many of whom are accomplished Lingnan graduates, as they guide students both personally and professionally.
“There is no better reward than witnessing young people progress in society and fostering mentorship for future generations. If we can inspire these talented individuals to remain in Hong Kong after graduation for development, that would be an additional bonus.”
One of the mentors Mr Raymond Savio Chan Wing-fung, CEO and Director of Metaverse Securities Limited, has developed a mutually trusted relationship with his mentees.
An adviser on the Career Development Committee, Mr Raymond Savio Chan Wing-fung, CEO and Director of Metaverse Securities Limited, and his fellow mentors have made a great difference to the growth and success of Lingnan students.
Mr Chan recalls the number of supervisors, mentors, and life coaches who have genuinely given him good advice and guidance over the past 30 years, “Looking back, I could not have achieved what I have without those mentors and their support. So, I am now determined to give as much as possible, rather than to take.”
Mentorship is important; but the key is to tailor it to meet the unique needs and goals of each mentee. Based on his unrivalled experience, Mr Chan has spared no effort in creating a trusted and structured approach to mentorship for Lingnan students.
Yet, success never comes easy.
At first, Mr Chan scheduled three to four meetings with mentees a year in advance. Before each meeting, he chose a topic, and gave mentees questions to work on, but that turned out to be a passive, one-way relationship where he only gave feedback and advice.
“Now I only schedule our first meeting, and ask my mentees to arrange meetings or reach out to me on a proactive basis. This makes the mentorship more bilateral and fruitful, so that encourages them to keep it going,” Mr Chan says - and his phone and email are always within reach.
He finds Lingnan postgraduate students knowledgeable, humble, and sincere. “The programme broadens their horizons by introducing them to industry leaders and an actual working life. We always say: attitude is more important than knowledge and skills, and Lingnan students have the right attitude.
“Through this programme, we, the mentors, help them to discover what they believe in and their true values, and try to give them enough self-confidence to excel in the future and their careers.”