Mentorship at NAIT
Starting as a first-year student at NAIT is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming and scary. We know it can be difficult to navigate your academic program, connect with other students, develop a sense of belonging, and find your rhythm.
Mentorship is a supportive learning relationship that helps students navigate the complexity of post-secondary life with greater confidence. At NAIT, mentorship connects first year and newcomer students with trained peers who offer guidance, lived experience, and a sense of community.
Students can also engage with industry-aligned mentors who help them explore career pathways, strengthen professional skills, and clarify their next steps. These relationships create space for questions, exploration, and honest conversations about studying, settling into life in Canada, building a sense of belonging, and preparing for future opportunities.
Explore the many mentorship opportunities at NAIT:
Roles
Mentor Role
A mentor is an experienced student or professional who offers guidance, perspective, and encouragement to someone who is earlier in their journey. In the NAIT community, mentors help others navigate academic expectations, understand campus resources, and build confidence in both personal and professional development. They listen, share lived experience, and create a supportive environment where questions are welcomed and growth is supported.
Mentee Role
A mentee is a student who is beginning their journey at NAIT and/or seeking support, clarity, and connection as they adjust to post-secondary life and beyond. Mentees benefit from the guidance and live experience of mentors as they learn to navigate academic expectations, understand campus resources, and build confidence in a new academic, cultural, and career environment. They bring curiosity, goals, and a willingness to grow, engaging in a supportive relationship where questions are encouraged and personal development is prioritized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mentorship?
Mentorship is a structured (formal or informal) relationship that typically takes place between a more experienced individual and lesser experienced individual who is seeking advice, guidance, and support on a particular subject. When done right, mentorship relationships are mutually beneficial for both the mentor and mentee.
An example would be an experienced student being a peer mentor to a new student, the peer mentee, in a particular subject, or in a new school.
What is the difference between the 1:1 Mentorship Program & International Peer Group Program?
1:1 Mentorship
First-year students are matched with an upper-year mentor for personalized support. Mentees will be provided with advice, guidance and support from their mentors through regular 1:1 meetings and other forms of meet ups and matched based on academic program, shared goals, interests and personal background.
- Peer Mentor (PM) - experienced student volunteers who support, guide and advise mentees in the same academic program with additional similar interests, to navigate the transition into NAIT life.
- Peer Mentees - first-year students who sign up to the mentorship program because they want to seek out resources and other supports to help them be successful in their first year (and beyond!) at NAIT.
International Peer Groups
First-year international students join a group led by an upper-year international student mentor to help reduce cultural transition stress to NAIT and Canada, while building connection. Mentors and mentees in this program are matched in a group based on the first group meet up schedule. Mentees will participate in group activities and meetups.
- International Peer Groups (IPGs) – each IPG consists of 1 International Peer Mentor and 3 to 6 student mentees who will meet at least 6 times during a semester.
- International Peer Mentors (IPMs) – senior students who volunteer to support the cultural adjustment for their Student Mentees through sharing their Canadian and NAIT experience, offering peer advice and exploring the student community.
- International Peer Mentees – students who sign up to join an IPG because they want to connect with peers and build friendships and connections during their cultural transition to Canada and participate in the IPG meetups.
Why should I work with a mentor?
Further to the information provided, mentorship provides first-year students (mentees) with the opportunity to connect with an experienced NAIT student. Mentors help you/mentees:
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develop academic and personal strategies to successfully transition to NAIT life and/or life in Canada.
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understand the support and services available to you for personal and academic success
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increase your feeling of connectedness and belonging with the NAIT community
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develop friendships and personal accountability
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learn from the advice and opinions of someone in your program with more or different experience
If you are a first-year student and aren't sure which program to sign up to be a mentee in, no problem. Our application will help guide you and find the right fit.
Are these programs offered in-person or virtually?
1:1 Peer Mentorship: Once Peer Mentors and Mentees are matched together, they can decide whether mentor-mentee meetings and activities take place in-person, virtually, or through a combination of both. Therefore, participation in this program will be based on what works best for the individual participants.
International Peer Groups: Your group meetups and activities will happen in-person and on-campus.
Additional Mentorship & Peer Programs at NAIT
Drop-in Peer Support from NAITSA
If you’re not necessarily looking for a long-term, formalized relationship with an experienced student at NAIT, you might be interested in seeking Peer Support through the NAIT Students’ Association. Peer Support is an anonymous and confidential supportive listening service for students, by students. Delivered on a walk-in basis, or through a LiveChat.
Mawji Mentorship Program
The Mawji Centre for New Venture and Student Entrepreneurship fosters relationships that develop leadership, personal and professional skills within an arranged timeframe.
Are you a student who has started a business? Through an engaging and supportive mentorship process, we can help you establish goals and personal accountability, and support you through one-on-one education and advising.