Are you looking to get involved in some mentoring in the New Year?
For 2026, we are offering three streams as part of The Open University Careers Elevate Programme:
- Elevate Career Mentoring – by becoming a mentor, you can use your experience to help our students achieve their full potential. The stream requires a minimum of 4 meetings with your mentee over a period of four months starting in March 2026.
- Elevate Career Insights – this stream starting in March 2026 which will give OU students the opportunity to have a one-off meeting with a professional or employer in a sector they’re interested in. As a volunteer, this will require a smaller time commitment but will still be extremely valuable.
- Elevate Work Shadowing – this is a new stream starting in March 2026, which is a one-day informal online opportunity for students to observe professionals and gain insight into a particular role or sector. It’s designed to help students understand what a typical day looks like, the types of tasks involved, and the key skills required for success.
As a volunteer for any of these schemes, you will:
- Provide valuable insights and advice for navigating career shifts
- Share industry-specific knowledge to facilitate smooth transitions
- Motivate and inspire students to achieve their professional aspirations
We are looking for around 100 volunteers, across different industries and roles, to support students, full support and training will be provided. If you are interested in getting involved, please fill in this short expression of interest form by Friday 30th January 2026: Elevate Career Programme 2026
