Successful conclusion to the first edition of the professional mentoring programme Growing Together
The closing session of the Growing Together programme – a professional mentoring initiative promoted by Career Services within the Alumni department at UIC Barcelona – took place on 22 May. The programme ran for approximately four months and involved 14 mentor-mentee pairs, connecting graduates with more junior professional profiles – the mentees – with more experienced mentors, in a relationship based on shared growth and learning.
The main aim of Growing Together is to support the professional development of the University’s younger graduates through a one-to-one mentoring model. The programme has not only helped foster the personal and professional growth of the mentees, but has also strengthened the alumni community and encouraged intergenerational knowledge-sharing.
During the final session, several participants shared their experiences and expressed their gratitude. One mentee highlighted, “With my mentor’s help, I’ve learnt to prioritise goals and manage professional challenges more effectively.” She also emphasised the importance of both emotional and practical support, “It’s reassuring to see that many of the difficulties that seem insurmountable can be overcome with simple tools and the right guidance.”
Another mentee expressed thanks for “the practical guidance and personalised follow-up” received during the sessions and underlined how the programme helped them “gain greater clarity about their next professional steps”.
The benefits of the programme were clear for both mentees and mentors. For the younger participants, it supported self-management, the setting of new goals, and the building of connections with professionals in their field. For the mentors, it offered an opportunity to contribute to the development of new generations, consolidate their leadership, and expand their own professional networks.
Growing Together is part of the wider range of services offered by the University’s Career Services, including personalised careers guidance sessions, employability training, and the Career Centre – a platform that connects students and graduates with job opportunities. Over the past academic year, more than 469,000 vacancies were posted on the platform, 727 of which were exclusive to UIC Barcelona.
With initiatives like this one, the Alumni department aims to support graduates beyond the classroom and throughout their professional journey. Growing Together has shown that collaboration between graduates not only strengthens bonds but also has a real and positive impact on the future of professionals trained at UIC Barcelona.