Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) is proud to announce the launch of the new WISDOM Mentorship Programme (Working in Sciences: Developing Opportunities and Mentorship), an initiative aimed at nurturing and guiding the next generation of science and biopharma professionals in the region. Funded by N-TUTORR, the programme seeks to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice, enhancing career prospects and leadership opportunities for mentees.

The WISDOM Mentorship Programme is an N-TUTORR Fellowship, involving staff and student partners and designed to create connections between professionals from the pool of DkIT alumni and emerging talent from our undergraduate science programmes. By engaging with a member of the DkIT alumni, our student mentees will benefit from personalised guidance, industry insights and the chance to build a strong foundation for their careers. Meanwhile, mentors will contribute to shaping the future of the science/biopharma sector by sharing their expertise.

The WISDOM Programme team extended a warm welcome to all participants last week at the programme launch event in DkIT.

“We are excited to begin this Alumni-Student mentorship programme, we've had a really positive response from our alumni professionals and from our final year students and we hope this programme will provide an enriching experience for all.” 

Dr Sinéad Loughran, a Senior Lecturer  in the Department of Life & Health Sciences at DkIT said:

"Twenty-two Mentors have come on board to offer guidance, industry knowledge, and practical strategies for career success. Our student mentees, in turn, will actively engage with mentors over the coming months, setting clear goals and taking ownership of their career progression."

At the Programme launch this week, participants explored the variety of career pathways taken by our Mentors within the biopharma industry, including research, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, manufacturing and clinical trials management.

Annmarie McHugh, a Lecturer in the Department of Management and Financial Studies at DkIT said:

“We’ve provided each participant on the programme with a Goal-setting journal from MoJo&Co to help them achieve personal and professional growth by using structured approaches to setting and tracking their goals.”

Participants will utilise frameworks such as SMART goals and Career Development Planning to ensure they set and achieve career milestones effectively, with the full support of their mentors and the project co-ordinators, Sinead Loughran, Annmarie McHugh and Catherine Staunton.

Catherine Staunton, Head of Careers & Employability at DkIT said:

“The WISDOM programme aligns fully with the DkIT Graduate Attributes and Embedding Employability Frameworks, we are delighted to be able to fully integrate these into the programme which is fostering career development, industry engagement and transversal skill-building.”

The WISDOM Programme is proudly funded by N-TUTORR, a national initiative supporting learning, teaching, and assessment transformation within Ireland’s higher education sector, ensuring a resilient and employability-focused future for students.