In a continuing effort to stay engaged with our dynamic alumni community, we are are excited to launch the 2022-23 Asian Institute Mentorship Program (AIM).

The program connects current students in the Asian Institute’s undergraduate and Master’s programs with alumni for professional development and networking opportunities. This year, AIM will run in the fall and winter academic semesters from September 2022 to April 2023. Alumni mentors and student mentees may participate in the program entirely online, and we will also offer various opportunities for in-person meetings for those who are interested. We welcome you to participate whether you’re in Toronto or anywhere in the world!

Serving as a mentor should be as valuable an experience for you as it is for your mentee. Our previous mentors shared that participating as an alumni volunteer strengthened their professional and personal networks, as they gave back to undergraduate students by sharing industry expertise and knowledge. We believe you will also enjoy learning from the next generation of Asian Institute students as they prepare for future academic and career success.

How It Works

If you are interested in volunteering to become a mentor, please fill out a (short) alumni volunteer application form by 11:59PM (EDT), September 26, 2022. You will be matched with a student mentee who shares related career interests and/or mentorship goals by early October.

Meet and greets: Meet the mentees and your fellow mentors at an orientation workshop in October 2022 (online event) and celebrate the conclusion of the program at a reception in April 2023 (an optional in-person event).

Training and guidance: Mentors and mentees will receive resources on how to make the most of the AIM experience through a presentation at the orientation workshop and an accompanying pdf guide with further reading, resources, and suggestions for how to structure your meetings.

Connect over the academic semester: Attend at least two meetups with your student mentee per term (these can be virtual or in person where possible). AIM encourages our students to develop their communication and networking skills; as such, the expectation will be on your mentee to reach out and set up the first and subsequent meetings.

If you have questions about the program, you can contact the Asian Institute’s Program Advisor and Communications Officer, Katherine MacIvor, at ai.asianstudies@utoronto.ca.

We hope you’ll join us in this opportunity to reconnect with the Asian Institute community!

Deadline: September 26, 2022