It has been 11 years since the University of Macau (UM) launched the Alumni Mentorship Scheme. The scheme matches UM alumni with current students based on their backgrounds and interests. As mentors, the alumni are expected to share their life experience with their mentees and provide suggestions for their development. The scheme encourages alumni to give back to their alma mater while creating opportunities for students to learn more about society.<\/p>\n\n
Social Education Outside the Classroom<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Abel Fong, who is a frequent participant in the scheme, graduated from UM in 2000 with a master\u2019s degree in education administration and is currently working in the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau. \u2018The Alumni Mentorship Scheme offers a different mode of education,\u2019 says Fong. \u2018Outside the classroom, the scheme allows students to gather information about the job market and learn from people who are working. It can help students plan their future.\u2019 Fong likens the relationship between a mentor and a mentee to a puzzle game. \u2018It\u2019s like we are playing puzzles together. The more pieces we put together, the more we learn about this world,\u2019 says Fong. \u2018This is the most practical aspect of the scheme.\u2019<\/p>\n\n
Karrie Wong, a fourth-year student of pre-primary education, says that the scheme allows her to meet more people from the education industry. \u2018I have gathered a lot of information from them,\u2019 says Wong. \u2018The information will be very useful to me after graduation.\u2019 Her mentor happens to be Fong, who has rich experience in education. During the activity, they shared ideas about education with each other.<\/p>\n\n
Tiffany Chui, an employee of the Macao Government Tourism Office, graduated from the Department of Management and Marketing in 2013. She hopes to share the information and experience she gained at work with students. Her mentees happened to graduate from the same secondary school that she went to. \u2018I feel very warm talking with them,\u2019 says Chui. \u2018From them I can learn about the hot topics among younger people and their perspectives on different things.\u2019 She hopes the UM students who are graduating this year will be brave and try different jobs.<\/p>\n\n
Joseph Tsui, a UM alumnus who is also the president of the University of Macau (Hong Kong) Alumni Association, says that the Alumni Mentorship Scheme can benefit both current students and the alumni as both parties can learn from each other. He hopes that the students will keep a positive attitude, discover their own potential, and put it to good use. He also wishes the students good luck in achieving their goals with the assistance from their mentors.<\/p>\n\n
Sara Wong, the supervisor of the Supervisory Committee of UM\u2019s Alumni Association, says that her mentees have given her a lot of positive energy. \u2018I like this mentor-friend relationship very much,\u2019 says Wong. \u2018The students have provided new perspectives for me on real-life issues. It is a very rewarding experience.\u2019<\/p>\n\n
Kristy Kuan, a second-year student of Portuguese studies, says that she joined the scheme to learn from the UM alumni. \u2018I hope to clear my doubts and broaden my horizons,\u2019 says Kuan.<\/p>
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