Student Mentorship Program

Relying on a colleague for guidance can make a lot of things easier. It’s totally free! Our mentors help you avoid the difficulties they have often experienced.

The mentorship team supports all students:

• who are new to their studies, to facilitate their arrival and integration
• who need peer support during their studies

Two ways to take advantage of the Mentorship Program

Request a personalized pairing

To request a pairing, write to bbve.sesre@inrs.ca and specify the component that meets your needs. International students can request a match in the Arrival and integration component, even before their arrival. However, the pairing will only take place once we have received the letter of acceptance for the study permit application.

Mentorship components

Arrival and integration component

Objectives:

• Facilitate your integration at INRS and in Quebec
• Answer your questions and direct you to the right resources
• Help you build a network of contacts at INRS
• Facilitate your full participation in university life

Social integration component

Objectives:

• Enable you to connect with your colleagues
• Help you build a social network
• Break your isolation

French component

Objectives:

• Meet someone with whom you can share moments in French
• Put French into practice in everyday life

Writing component

Objectives:

• Help develop good writing habits
• Get peer feedback on your writing approach

Software component

Objectives:

• Learn how to use specialized software by putting it into practice
• Interact with users who can help you out.

Open component

Objective:

• Provide support for any challenge that can be alleviated by exchanges with peers

Pairing criteria

Pairing is based on the preferred language of communication; the background and previous experiences; and the program of study and the research team. The mentee can always withdraw from mentoring, request a change of mentor, or decline an activity proposed by the mentor.

Use the on-call Mentorship Team

You don’t have a mentor and you have specific questions? You feel alone and want to know the next activities in your center? Contact the on-call student mentor of your centre. This person will be able to answer your questions or refer you to the right resources!

How to mentor students

Have you been studying at INRS for a few semesters? Do you want to get involved in your university? Do you think that INRS new students and those who get challenges to face need to be supported?

To be a mentor means:

• Supporting new students for 2 or 3 semesters to help them adapt, take their place and create a network in their new environment.
• Adding a rewarding and formative action to your own experiences.
• Above all, about helping, creating links and animating your living environment.
  

This is a volunteer commitment, but a letter of recognition along with a $500 scholarship will acknowledge the participation of all mentors afterwards! To support you in this role, you will receive a short training as well as coaching.

Terms of references and mentor roles

Normally, the term begins with fall semester and lasts for three semesters. It is renewable. Mentors must be available for most of the academic year to support a few mentees. To play their role with the mentees, they must:

• Communicate with them at the agreed-upon frequency.
• Respect the mentor’s code of ethics.
• Act in accordance with their training and the limits of their mandate.

During their mandate, mentors are supervised and can always refer to their centre mentorship supervisor.

Eligibility

To qualify as a mentor, you must:

• Not be in a situation of failing.
• Have been a graduate student at INRS for at least 1 year at the time of starting the mentorship.
• Continue your studies at INRS for at least two semesters in the next academic year.

Required characteristics

Mentors should:

• Have special interest in welcoming new students, or supporting peers.
• Socialize easily.
• Have the time to meet with 3 to 4 new mentees each semester, remotely or in person, and answer their questions.

How to submit your application

The next application period will be for the 2025-2026 Mentorship Team.

By April 30, 2025, applicants should send the following items to bbve.sesre@inrs.ca.

1. An email addressing these four elements:

2. Those enrolled in a program of study with research must also notify their research supervisor of their application by email and copy bbve.sesre@inrs.ca.