AILA Guidelines on student mentorships.

The guidelines below are listed as a preferred model for mentor programs.

AILA appreciates that there are different program structures within the seven accredited programs and therefore variations may have to be discussed as to how mentor schemes could be structured.

It is the wish of the National Council that all programs work towards an AILA linked Mentor model for their students.

AILA regards students are the basis of the future and growth of the Institute and the profession.

There is an on-going need for the Institute and its members to provide appropriate support for students attending accredited courses In landscape architecture.

AILA is seeking to establish and maintain meaningful liaisons between the Institute and the student body. To assist this process National Council has encouraged state groups to assist with or initiate mentor schemes that introduce students to landscape architectural practices as early as practicable in their academic careers.

Objectives
Student mentor schemes should provide a forum for practising landscape architects and students:
• To meet regularly and discuss matters relating to the field.
• To facilitate transitions in knowledge, work or thinking in relationship to landscape architecture practice.
• To develop an on-going relationship between the mentor and student group that enables professional growth to take place within an organised and supportive framework.

For professionals, involvement in the program provides:
• Contact with students.
• A chance to become aware of current educational directions in the field.
• Opportunities to participate in guiding the next generation of practitioners.
• An opportunity to reflect on their current projects and office practice.

For students, the program provides:
• A forum to discuss theoretical and practical issues with a practitioner.
• A window into contemporary Australian landscape architectural practice.
• A chance to interact informally with professionals.

While a mentor program is not work experience, per se, there are a number of significant roles the mentor can play, namely:
• Coaching – demonstrating how to do a task or activity
• Facilitating – creating opportunities for learners to use new skills
• Counselling – helping students to explore the consequences of potential decisions
• Networking – referring students to others with additional knowledge or expertise.

Mentors are encouraged to challenge the students’ assumptions about issues related to landscape architecture, environmental planning, sustainable development, and encourage the students to explore new ideas and different ways of thinking about the issues related to landscape architecture. Ideally, through this process students are exposed to aspects of professional practice they may have never considered previously.

AILA recognised Student Mentorships
While students or programs may wish to establish their own mentor schemes, AILA wishes to offer assistance for programs it can endorse. For a program to be recognised as an AILA endorsed program, students should be student members of the AILA.

To facilitate this, the AILA has established a reduced student membership fee of $22.00/year for students who wanted to participate in the mentor program. This student mentor fee covers only basic administration costs, electronic newsletters, participation in AILA events and electronic newsletters and notices. This special fee does not cover hard copy journals and newsletters such as Landscape Australia. Students still have the option of paying the full student fee that includes normal subscription benefits including all journals.

Practitioners involved in a mentor program should be current members of the Institute, working in private or public practice, with a minimum of four years post-graduate professional experience.
Membership forms are available online: http://www.aila.org.au/membership

Student Mentorship Guidelines (draft)

1. It is recommended that student mentor programs be imbedded within a program’s coursework structure, eg in the Professional Practice subject(s).
2. AILA will assist the schools/programs to establish contact with practices through membership information supplied by the National Office and/or the state group.
3. The AILA may assist in the process of contacting through an email request for participation by practices.
4. The school/program should issue guidelines for participating practices outlining expectations and commitments for both the practices and the students.
5. Schools/programs and AILA State Group should hold annual sessions with current and prospective mentors to provide a forum for review and comment on the mentor program’s outcomes, and make adjustments as necessary.