Another semester has come to an end  at FMUL, alongside the activities prepared by the Mentoring Project!

As usual, in order to promote the integration of new students in the Faculty and their own self-development, throughout the past semester the Mentoring Project organised several activities for the integration, empowerment and awareness of the new students.

The first activities focused on establishing the mentor-mentee relationship and on the preparation of mentors so that they are able to perform their role in the best way.

During the Registration Week, concurrently with the registration of newcomers in the Mentoring Project, the Mentors' Day was held and included group discussion activities, a Leadership workshop and participation in an Escape Room at Lx Factory. The latter was very innovative compared to the activity conducted in the previous academic year. In addition, in order to foster the first contacts between mentors and mentees and among the mentees themselves, the Mentoring Day consisted of a Treasure Hunt around Cidade Universitária, starting at Estádio Universitário and ending at Mário Soares Garden in Campo Grande, where informal interaction was encouraged.

Mentoring promotes integration into Academic Life, and also integration into a new city for students who have to leave their home to study at FMUL. Thus, for the second consecutive year, the Mentoring Project together with Dr Rui Martins, Clinical Psychologist at Espaço S, held the Displaced Students Day, encouraging the sharing of experiences on coping methods related to a new academic and accommodation reality. Also, since the beginning of the academic year is also when year 3 students from the University of Madeira join FMUL, the Reception to students from Madeira was also held. It was attended by the AEFML, the 17-23 Degree Committee and the 17-23 Final Year students’ Committee, who were able to share the activities they carry out throughout the year, with the activity culminating in a guided tour of FMUL’s areas of interest.

Since a doctor needs more than just medicine, Soft Skills Workshops were organized for the personal development of students on the topics «Studying in an intelligent way», «Leadership», «Communication» and «Healthy Lunchboxes: Thinking Out of the (lunch) box». With the same mindset and in order to make the students’ development even more complete, together with Dr Susana Henriques, Head of division of FMUL’s Library-IDC, the «Finding Evidence» Workshop was held in which more effective bibliographic research methods were shared, so that the study and work carried out by students can be as rich as possible, using quality information.

As the end of the semester drew to a close, the Christmas season also came, when sharing is experienced in a more intense way by everyone. Embodying this spirit, the Mentoring Project promoted, together with the Blood Donation Centre of Santa Maria Hospital, a Blood Donation session with our mentors and mentees. This so simple and yet so noble gesture was much supported by the students, turning this small initiative into a successful one.

Many other activities and surprises are being prepared by the Mentoring Project for the 2nd semester... what is to come?

The Mentoring Project Partnership