MENTori@IPL starts mentor training for the 2025/2026 edition

The Polytechnic of Lisbon's Peer Mentoring Program - MENTori@IPL - officially began with the first sessions of the 2025/2026 edition. The initiative, now in its fifth year, implemented in six of the eight IPL schools (ESCS, ESD, ESELx, ESSL, ISCAL, and ISEL), aims to support the integration of students now entering higher education by fostering close relationships, sharing, and support among peers.

The first session of the initial mentor training took place on September 2, 2025, at the Escola Superior de Comunicação Social (ESCS), in the Vítor Macieira auditorium. It featured several integration activities for the student mentors, aiming to create an initial informal connection between participants.

MENTori@IPL 2025/26 - formação inicial de Mentores

During the opening ceremony, the host, ESCS President André Sendin, reinforced the active role of everyone involved, emphasizing: "I continue to support these programs because I believe it's not just about helping others integrate, it's also about integrating ourselves. I hope you enjoy this mentoring program."

In the same session, Cristina Borges de Azevedo, IPL Vice President for Academics, Pedagogical Innovation, Quality, and Erasmus+, praised the volunteer spirit of the participating students, emphasizing IPL's commitment to promoting the integration of new students as an opportunity for academic, personal, and social enrichment. He also highlighted this year's new feature: the MENTori@IPL program is now part of the newly created Student Support Center, a multifunctional structure dedicated to the well-being and support of the student community.

João Lobato, administrator of the IPL's Social Action Services, spoke of the importance of mentors' role in building a more cohesive and collaborative academic community. "Those who signed up for this program have a special calling: they are agents of social animation and leadership. This is an important step toward improving the ecosystem within institutions." Conceição Soares, a psychologist with the Psychological and Educational Support Services (SAPE), argued that the program should focus on human connections: "We want to combat what is already known as 'relational winter.' This should be a program focused on fostering relationships, which are our first line of support in any challenging or difficult situation."

The second MENTori@IPL mentor training session took place at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), in the auditorium on the 3rd floor of Building C, on September 9, 2025. The training, lasting approximately five hours and mandatory for new mentors, included morning sessions with institutional interventions, welcoming moments, and reflection activities on the role and responsibilities of the mentor, including tips for resolving challenging situations. The program's stages, schedule, and forms of recognition for participation (certificate, diploma completion, and scholarship) were also presented.

During the afternoon, the new mentors joined colleagues from previous sessions to share testimonials and group dynamics, reinforcing integration and active involvement in the academic community.

This year, mentor training began earlier to expedite the process of assigning mentors to newly admitted students, who are already registering as mentees.

By the date of the second initial training session, 232 mentors had signed up, 74 of whom had already served in this role last academic year. Registration will continue, and new training sessions will be held to further expand the MENTori@IPL Program. This academic year, the program will also launch an ongoing mentor training program throughout the academic year, based on the five basic relational acts: respect, listen, help, communicate, and share information.

About the MENTori@IPL Program

MENTori@IPL is coordinated by the Social Action Services of the Polytechnic of Lisbon (SAS-IPL), in collaboration with the schools and institutes that comprise the IPL. The program was created in the 2021/2022 academic year and aims to promote the integration of new students into their school and program, as well as their personal and academic development. By focusing on these core objectives, it will be possible to contribute to broader outcomes, notably academic success and the development of engaged citizens.

Flickr photos from the 5ª Edição do Programa Mentori@IPL: Formação de Mentores 2025 album.