King's College London

Arya Gonullu, a second-year Theoretical and Mathematical Physics student, embraced the King’s Mentoring Award to make a meaningful contribution to the King’s community. As a Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) Leader, Arya mentored foundation students in maths, physics, and science and society, offering guidance on academic strategies and navigating university life both socially and academically.

Reflecting on her experience, Arya shared:

"Two years ago, I was a foundation student myself. My PALS Leader helped me overcome challenges I thought were impossible at the time. That inspired me to do the same for others."

Arya highlighted the unique challenges of mentoring diverse mentees, which helped her grow as both a leader and communicator:

"Supporting students with different learning styles taught me how to adapt and problem-solve. It’s been a mutually enriching experience, improving my confidence and helping my mentees find solutions with less trial and error."

Impact of King’s Mentoring Award

For Arya, completing the King’s Mentoring Award provided structured recognition of her efforts and bolstered her professional profile:

"The award is a testament to the skills I’ve gained—mentorship, leadership, and adaptability. Having it featured on my HEAR and LinkedIn profile adds significant credibility for my future career."

The award process also encouraged Arya to reflect on her growth:

"It helped me consolidate everything I learned during the mentoring process, which I can now apply in any career path I choose."

Broader Impact

Arya’s journey underscores how the King’s Mentoring Award empowers students to foster leadership, empathy, and collaboration. The programme equips participants with transferable skills and formal recognition, enhancing their employability and enabling them to inspire others. By encouraging students like Arya to engage in meaningful mentorship activities, the award reinforces King’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community.

More about the King’s Mentoring Award

King's Mentoring is a King's Experience Award within the Service Stream designed to help peer mentors develop a service ethic and boost employability. Forming part of your mentoring training, achieving the award requires completing an e-learning course, engaging in a mentoring scheme or informal mentoring activity, and completing a final Reflection Form. Upon successful completion, this award will also be featured on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).

The King’s Experience Awards offer you a way to make the most of what you love to do, providing formal recognition for personal pursuits, such as mentoring. Experiences, such as peer mentoring, are invaluable in building key skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork, which are just a few of the King’s Skills for the Future - the top skills for the future of work. By engaging in activities under the King's Experience Awards, you can develop and provide evidence for these skills now, giving yourself that extra edge and ensuring you’re work-ready for the future. You can complete an Award in three streams: Service, Leadership, and Research.

The Service Stream describes King’s commitment to serving society beyond the traditional roles of education and research. In this award stream, you will focus on how to bring a positive impact to the King’s community by sharing your vision to inspire others. This initiative aligns with King's 2029 vision by involving students in meaningful community contributions, fostering a sense of belonging, and providing a platform for reflecting on acquired skills and experiences.

Key Features and Impact

• Skill Development: The King’s Mentoring Award enables students to develop leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities.
• Flexibility: Participants can complete the course and mentoring activities at their own pace, making it adaptable to their academic schedules.
• Comprehensive Training: The training covers mentorship roles, career exploration, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), ensuring mentors are well-prepared.

 

Formal Recognition

The award offers formal recognition for attaining peer mentoring skills and experience outside the formal curriculum. Participants receive:

• Recognition on their Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR).
• An Accredible digital certificate and LinkedIn badge.
• An invitation to the King’s Edge Celebration, where they can network with employers, access careers consultations, and celebrate their achievements.