First Annual UJ Speed Mentorship Event
The first Annual University of Johannesburg (UJ) Speed Mentorship event, held on 13 October 2023, achieved remarkable success, fostering meaningful interactions between student mentees primarily from the Engineering and Built Environment faculties at the UJ and the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as experienced mentors in their respective fields. The event was a collaborative effort between CESA YPF Gauteng South Branch, and the University of Johannesburg.
It featured three distinguished guest speakers, namely:
- Nosizwe Mokoena from the Council for the Built Environment,
- Nomsa Magazi from SASOL, and
- The late Johan de Koker, who served on the advisory committees for UJ and TUT.
The event also boasted a special thanksgiving session for the invited speakers and mentors with an interactive prize-giving session for reflections from the audience.
Event Overview: The event aimed to provide career guidance, industry insights, and networking opportunities to students while celebrating the generosity of our mentors through facilitated opportunities to connect with multiple experienced professionals in the built environment. Through short 5-minute focused mentorship sessions, students rotated between mentors, gaining insights, advice, and expanding their professional networks. The event bridged the gap between academia and industry and aimed to prepare students for successful careers.
Guest Speakers’ Insights:
Nosizwe Mokoena: As a Strategic Support and Engagement Specialist at the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), Ms. Mokoena shared her experiences and insights on entrepreneurship and startups. Her 10-minute talk shed light on the journey of building a career in the built environment sector.
Nomsa Magazi: A Commercial Specialist at SASOL, Ms. Magazi’s impressive qualifications include an LLB and Civil Engineering. Her presentation focused on career development and achieving a school/work-life balance, providing invaluable guidance to the students on the importance of taking initiative and being pro-active for a successful career.
Johan de Koker: Prof. Johan de Koker’s distinguished career included work with TRANSNET, the University of Johannesburg, and IPET, among others. His extensive experience was highlighted, and his 10-minute talk inspired students to aim above and beyond the entry-level “bare minimum approach” with his captivating talk on “Why 50% is not good enough”. It is a sad to have lost such a legend in this industry and we remember his significant contribution to the infrastructure environment.
Speed Mentorship Sessions: Students engaged in productive and insightful conversations with mentors, rotating through the speed mentorship sessions at designated mentor stations with small groups of approximately 3 students to each mentor. Mentors provided a short introduction and description of their respective roles while also providing quick guidance, advice, networking opportunities and imparting their expertise to the next generation of professionals.
Thanksgiving Session: A dedicated session was held to express gratitude to the invited speakers and mentors for their invaluable contributions. The mentors’ generosity and the speakers’ inspiring talks were acknowledged as pivotal to the event’s success.
Conclusion: The annual speed mentorship event was a tremendous success, offering students valuable insights and connections. The event’s efficient speed mentorship format, informative talks by the guest speakers, and the thanksgiving session all contributed to making this event a memorable and enriching experience for all the attendees.
We express our sincere gratitude to our guest speakers and mentors for their generous contributions and to the students for their active engagement. This event exemplified the power of mentorship, guidance, and networking in shaping the careers of future professionals. We eagerly anticipate future mentorship events at UJ that continue to bridge the gap between education and industry, empowering students to thrive in their chosen careers. Lastly, the event would not have been possible without the contributions of our CESA YPF Gauteng South organising team, whose efforts ensured its smooth execution.
By Swesha Machere
CESA YPF Gauteng South Chairperson