SNU students and high school girls in mentoring program on campus.
On March 28, 2016, Seoul National University Institute of Global Social Responsibility (IGSR) held an orientation for the SNU Mentoring Program. At the event, the Institute introduced a new mentoring program, Naerisarang Mentoring, which will absorb the existing SNU Mentoring Program. In Korean, Naerisarang is similar to unconditional, down-flowing"parental love."
Since 2009, SNU Mentoring has been uniquely operated as an e-mentoring program that pairs SNU students with middle and high school students nationwide. Mentors and mentees participate in most interactions online, for example by writing each other messages via the website or mobile app provided by IGSR. The Institute stated that many mentees receive advice regarding proper studying habits, career options and managing personal issues.
Students in orientation for Naerisarang Mentoring
The new Naerisarang Mentoring Program extends SNU Mentoring a step further: SNU undergraduate students serving as mentors are paired with their own mentors, who are graduate students or SNU alumni. Undergraduate mentors are able to receive practical advice concerning graduate school or the job market in the field of their interest. Thus, beginning this year, the mentoring has become a two-fold system, through which graduate students and alumni mentor undergraduate students, who in turn mentor middle and high school students. IGSR supervises all mentoring activities, in order to ensure that each mentor or mentee can make a meaningful contribution to the program.
IGSR explained that the greatest advantage of its e-mentoring programs is their easy accessibility. As most of the activities occur online, the opportunity is offered to a much wider range of middle and high school students, regardless of their physical location. The Institute expressed its hopes that all of its mentoring participants can gain much from sharing knowledge and wisdom with others.
Written by YOON Jiwon, SNU English Editor, jiwonyoon@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr