Lucy Mentoring at UTS

Program objectives 

The Lucy Mentoring Program aims to:

• Demonstrate the diverse opportunities available in engineering and technology;
• Provide an opportunity to work with IT and engineering professionals in a mentoring relationship;
• Provide women and gender diverse people studying in non-traditional fields, with access to a network of professionals and senior managers in relevant companies, including role models;

• Provide with a program which will encourage active decision making about their careers

  See how students benefited from the program

Program structure

The Lucy Mentoring Program has been designed to be driven by student goals while providing support and opportunities to connect with peers and professionals. Students are required to self-organise 20 hours one-on-one with their mentor and attend five mandatory checkpoints: 

Checkpoint 1: Goal-setting workshop

Designed by mechanical engineer and executive coach Yemi Penn, this workshop will equip students in:

• acknowledging and owning 100% responsibility for the success of their mentoring relationship and;
• looking behind motivations for participating and how this can be anchored to an action plan going forward

March 2025

Checkpoint 2: Launch Event

Meet your mentor and share your goals for the program. Plan your mentoring relationship and connect with other mentoring pairs.

March 2025

Checkpoint 3 and 4: Professional development workshops

Students must attend two professional development workshops including interview skills, networking skills, or strength and resilience workshops. The networking skills workshop will be followed by a casual networking event. 

April and August 2025

Checkpoint 5: Graduation Evening

This is your opportunity to reflect and share what you have gained from your mentoring experience and practice presenting in a professional context. Then we celebrate!

September 2025

Eligibility

• All women, including both cis- and trans-women, or gender diverse students from an undergraduate or postgraduate (coursework) degree in the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT, the Bachelor of Technology and Innovation or a Masters of Data Science and Innovation
• The program is open to domestic and international students
• Students not graduating before September 2025

Selection process

First round of student applications for 2025 are open October-December. Apply here.

• Students apply through Careers Hub. 
• Shortlisted students will be notified in December and requested to complete a video or in person interview.
• Students will be selected based on motivation, commitment and professionalism by a panel of UTS representatives.
• Students will be notified of selection mid February.

Frequently asked questions

How should I spend time with my mentor?

How you spend time with your mentor depends on the goals you would like to achieve. Speak to your mentor about what they can offer but remember this is ultimately led by you. Examples of activities you could do include:

• Shadowing includes attending meetings, design and development work etc. 
• Conversations over coffee to discuss student goals, progress and plans.
• Meeting different people from across the business and understanding their roles.
• Group discussions with other mentors and students.
• Attending networking events with the mentor.
• Attending professional development workshops run by the company.

Where can I meet my mentor?

Discuss with your mentor where is suitable for both of you. It could be at UTS, at their workplace or in a coffee shop! Visiting their workplace will give you the opportunity to meet their colleagues and see their work environment. 

Who will my mentor be?

In 2024, professionals from 49 engineering and technology companies signed up to the Lucy Mentoring Program. You have the opportunity to list companies of interest to you however we can't guarantee that you will be matched with a mentor from that company. Mentors of any gender are welcome, with different levels of seniority and different roles within the business. The common factor is their willingness to mentor you and give up their valuable time. 

What is the commitment?

To graduate from the Lucy Mentoring Program students must: 

• Spend at least 20 hours with their mentor
• Attend the launch and graduation events - the mid-program networking event is optional
• Participate in a minimum of two professional development workshops
• Complete the pre- and post-program surveys