University academic awarded fellowship to study mentoring

University academic awarded fellowship to study mentoring

University of Auckland academic Dr Pat Bullen has been awarded the 2014 Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship to further develop her expertise in youth mentoring.

Pat, a lecturer in the School of Learning, Development and Professional Practice in the Faculty of Education, was presented with the award at a ceremony held at the Ōrākei Marae in Auckland on Wednesday night. She is the first academic to be given the fellowship since its inception in 2010.

“I’m floating in a cloud I have to say. It is s a very humbling experience to receive this award.”

“Receiving this award certainly highlights the important link between youth health and education,” Pat says.

During the past two years Pat has coordinated a Stage 2 university course that teaches youth mentoring theory and research. In partnership with the Great Potentials Foundation who administer the MATES Jr programme, the course includes a ‘service learning’ component where tertiary students complete a 50 hour internship mentoring a Year 8 student from a decile 1 school who has been identified as needing additional support in negotiating the transition to secondary school.

The Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship will give Pat the opportunity to further develop her expertise through examining youth mentoring models overseas and developing strategies and resources to advance the establishment of more community-tertiary partnerships throughout New Zealand. To achieve this, she will also be working closely with the New Zealand Youth Mentoring Network.

During 2014 Pat will travel to Israel to visit Perach, a mentoring organisation operating since 1974. She will also visit the Universities in the United States and Australia who, through community university partnerships, have developed similar youth mentoring service learning courses. She will also attend a Youth Mentoring Summit in Arlington Virginia

Pat’s studies and travel will see her gain an understanding of what constitutes international ‘best-practice’ in mentoring programmes and community-university partnerships, and how these models can significantly grow, connect and enhance the sector in New Zealand.

She will also be able to share the inspirational stories she has seen develop among her students through the development of mentor- protégé relationships. 

“Not only do the mentors give something back to the community, but what we’ve seen in the past two years is they’ve learnt about inequality and social justice and they’ve gained a better understanding about why certain young people struggle to succeed.”

“You’re learning about yourself and the society we live in and gaining more compassion. It’s been a profound experience to witness that in my students.”

“Youth mentoring can change lives by increasing meaningful engagement in learning. I believe that the reach and depth of youth mentoring can be extended through greater leadership, best practice and practical resources in community-university partnerships.”

Pat was selected from a group of high quality applicants, and described as an ‘inspirational’ applicant by the selection team.

Vodafone NZ Foundation Chair, Antony Welton, says: “The vision of the Foundation is to see more young people meaningfully engaged in learning, so that – ultimately – there will be more young people equipped to positively contribute to society. The Fellowship is about developing leaders in the youth health and development sector to achieve this vision.”

The World of Difference Fellowship launched in November 2010 and is focused on developing leadership in the youth health and development sector. For more information about The Vodafone Foundation World of Difference Fellowship visit: http://foundation.vodafone.co.nz/what-we-fund/world-of-difference-fellowship/

ENDS

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