Photo: Sven Menschel
In late March, registrations opened for students who want to familiarise the new batches of students with Wageningen and the campus during the yearly introduction days in August. The number of registrations needed for the bachelor’s programme was achieved in a blink, as has always been the case, says AID Board member Sophie Visser. In that programme, mentors are given a group of 10 to 15 fledgling students to care for and to whom they are to show all facets of the Wageningen student life.
This mainly consists of attending many activities and parties. ‘The registrations are always open for a full week, but the required 280 mentors had registered within three days. Most are students who participated in the AID last year and want to relive their introduction week.’ The AID Board will be drawing to decide which pairs of students will be given the chance to introduce the new bachelor’s students to their student life.
Challenge
However, it is an annually recurring challenge to find enough mentors for the two master’s programmes (Regular and Light), although it is very alluring to be mentor of master’s students, tells Sophie. ‘The students whom you accompany are more experienced, which means they require less supervision. This means you have more free time, which you can spend enjoying the AID with your friends. Besides, many are international students, allowing you to get to know various cultures and customs.’ The students following the MSc regular programme get the full experience, while the MSc light has a mostly informative approach.
The students require less supervision. This means you have more free time.
Sophie Visser, AID Board
Last year, the board was forced to create larger groups to be able to provide all students attending the AID with a mentor. They really want to avoid having to do that this year, says Sophie. ‘Having a group that is smaller helps in bonding, and it is easier to keep organised for the mentor.’ The AID Board will be enthusing students to become master’s mentors through various media – Facebook, adverts and posters. ‘We hope to be able to assemble 70 pairs by the end of May, so they can join the mentor practice.’
If this piqued your interest, you can register as a Mentor MSc regular or Mentor MSc light on the AID webpage, https://www.aidwageningen.nl/en. Bachelor’s students can also register as master mentors.