Jesselton University College (JUC) established four institutional mentoring programmes in 2025 as part of its long-term commitment to gender equality, inclusive education and women’s empowerment. The initiatives comprise the Thrive Mentorship Programme, Career Development Mentoring Programme, Academic Mentoring Programme and Female Leadership Mentoring Programme. Designed as ongoing institutional initiatives rather than one-off activities, these programmes are intended to continue annually, providing female students with opportunities for academic guidance, career preparation, leadership development and personal growth throughout their university education.
Coordinated through JUC’s academic departments and student support services, the mentoring programmes aim to create an inclusive learning environment where female students can receive guidance from lecturers, academic advisers, university staff and experienced professionals. Particular attention is given to supporting women from low-income families, rural communities and disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as those pursuing academic and professional fields where women are traditionally underrepresented. Through these initiatives, JUC seeks to strengthen women’s academic participation, improve student retention, encourage leadership involvement and enhance career readiness.
The Thrive Mentorship Programme, introduced under the theme “Let’s Help Each Other”, focuses on providing inclusive guidance and dedicated support for students, particularly women entering traditionally male-dominated fields or coming from underserved communities. The programme encourages participants to develop confidence, strengthen their academic and professional aspirations, and establish meaningful connections with experienced mentors and role models. Through mentoring relationships, students are encouraged to seek advice, exchange experiences, develop professional networks and explore opportunities for personal and career advancement. The initiative also aims to encourage greater female participation in higher education and professional sectors where women’s representation may be limited.
The Career Development Mentoring Programme supports students in preparing for employment and long-term professional advancement by providing guidance on career planning, workplace expectations and employability development. Through mentoring from academic staff, university career advisers and industry professionals, students are encouraged to explore suitable career pathways, strengthen their professional communication skills and develop confidence in entering the workforce. Mentoring activities focus on résumé preparation, interview readiness, professional networking, career pathway exploration and workplace development. The programme also encourages female students to consider career opportunities across different industries, including sectors where women’s participation remains relatively limited.
The Academic Mentoring Programme provides continuing academic guidance and learning support to students throughout their studies at JUC, helping them strengthen their learning capabilities and maintain progress towards completing their qualifications. Through mentoring relationships with lecturers and academic advisers, students receive support in academic planning, study strategies, assignment preparation, examination readiness and academic performance improvement. The programme also places particular emphasis on assisting students who may face additional educational challenges, including those from low-income households and disadvantaged educational backgrounds. By providing accessible academic guidance and individual support, JUC aims to improve students’ academic confidence, encourage consistent learning progress and reduce barriers that may affect their continued participation in higher education.
The Female Leadership Mentoring Programme focuses specifically on developing women’s leadership capabilities and encouraging greater female participation in university, community and professional activities. Through guidance from lecturers, university staff and experienced female professionals, students are encouraged to strengthen their communication skills, decision-making abilities, teamwork, problem-solving capabilities and confidence in taking leadership responsibilities. The programme also supports female students in exploring leadership opportunities within student organisations, academic initiatives and community engagement activities. By connecting students with experienced mentors and role models, JUC seeks to encourage greater female representation in leadership positions and prepare women to contribute confidently to institutional and professional decision-making.
Established in 2025, these four mentoring programmes form part of JUC’s long-term institutional framework for supporting women’s academic, personal and professional development. Rather than operating as temporary activities, the programmes are designed to remain available in subsequent academic years, allowing female students to access mentoring opportunities at different stages of their educational journey. JUC aims to maintain participation by at least 10% of its female student population annually, reflecting its commitment to ensuring that mentoring opportunities benefit a meaningful proportion of female students. The University also intends to monitor participation through programme registration, mentoring attendance and student support records to evaluate programme reach and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
In 2025, JUC recorded 423 student participations across its four institutional mentoring programmes, including 262 female participations, representing approximately 61.94% of total programme participations. The Thrive Mentorship Programme involved 57 students, including 25 women, while the Career Development Mentoring Programme recorded 130 participants, including 47 women. The Academic Mentoring Programme involved 78 students, including 32 women, whereas the Female Leadership Mentoring Programme recorded 158 participants, all of whom were female students. These participation figures demonstrate the reach of JUC’s mentoring initiatives and their contribution to supporting women’s academic development, career preparation, leadership capabilities and personal growth.
Through the continued implementation of these programmes, JUC seeks to provide female students with sustained opportunities to develop academic confidence, strengthen professional skills, explore leadership responsibilities and build supportive relationships with experienced mentors. The University intends to continue monitoring female student participation annually to evaluate programme accessibility, effectiveness and overall engagement. Established as long-term institutional initiatives in 2025, these programmes reinforce JUC’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by supporting women’s academic progression, leadership participation and professional development in higher education.
