The Universidade Católica Portuguesa marks the completion of the first edition of the UCP4MENTOR training programme, aimed at student mentors and integrated into the UCP4SUCCESS, project, reinforcing the essential skills for responsible peer mentoring.  

The result of collaborative work between the different campuses of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, this training programme was developed in light of the latest scientific research and national and international best practices from other higher education institutions. 

The UCP4MENTOR training programme represents an innovative step forward in peer mentoring groups, offering mentors a training programme designed to respond to the complex challenges of the transition to higher education and to develop skills that promote responsible and effective peer support. Structured in five modules, with a total of nine hours of training, the programme was delivered in a blended learning format, combining one face-to-face session with four distance learning sessions that brought together mentors from the four campuses simultaneously. The training provided participants with official certification for mentoring practice. 

This first edition involved around 100 mentors and seven trainers, reinforcing the collaborative spirit between the various peer mentoring groups, AEFEP, Bright UP, CPBS, MENTORIZATE and SOS Caloiro.  

“The UCP4MENTOR training gave me concrete skills not only as a mentor, but also for my personal and professional life. Each session was well planned, with clear objectives and facilitated in an interactive way that made me think. It was an opportunity to learn from different speakers and other students, and to get to know the national community of mentors at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The sessions made me feel part of a team, and besides learning a lot, I had fun!” Sarah Reader, MENTORIZATE 

This training will give rise to an asynchronous course on the Sou Estudante UCP portal, ensuring that future mentors will have access to a structured, uniform and sustainable resource over the years, reinforcing the continuity and quality of the work developed within the scope of peer mentoring. 

"Participating in the UCP4MENTOR training was an opportunity to learn and improve both academic and social skills. This training gave me the opportunity to learn not only about anxiety, time and study management issues, but also to foster the ability to help someone younger who needs help in these areas. This promotion and training in mutual support fits perfectly with the spirit of Universidade Católica Portuguesa!" Ana Protásio, Bright Up.