Mentoring schemes introduced at Edinburgh and Napier

Both the University of Edinburgh and Napier Universities’ Islamic society are looking to support new students by establishing mentoring schemes in the new year.

Similar schemes already exist at other Scottish Univeristies, such as St. Andrews Univerity’s Academic Parents programme.

EUSA's Vice President of Academic Affairs, Stevie Wise, explained how the scheme to get high-school pupils shadowing university students is set to develop: “Initially the scheme will only be open to sixth year students who have accepted a place at the University of Edinburgh. We don’t want to create false impressions for students who might come and see the University with the expectation of studying here, but who have no realistic chance.

"Of course we hope if the pilot scheme is successful to roll it out to more pupils, it’s really about widening access and giving people the support they need and a good idea of what to expect from their time at university.”

Fatima Ahmed, President of the Islamic Society of Napier University, is keen to see the Muslim Mentoring scheme provide support for international students as well as tackle prejudice against Muslims: “Napier has a huge diversity of international students compared to other Scottish universities and I feel that it is important that our voices are heard.”

“When I first came to university I had a mentor who was from Sweden, she was very nice but she didn’t have a real understanding of my background. The real object of the mentoring scheme we are setting up is not to isolate Muslim students but to try and allow them to integrate with the wider student body without them feeling alienated from where they have come from.”

“Too often I see Muslim students fail to integrate with other non-Muslim students at university. We are not seeking to radicalise or influence younger students, but I feel it is important that students can be proud to be Muslims studying at university and I hope they can receive support from the mentoring scheme. We are looking to further support this work with the universities consent to establish a Muslim Chaplaincy Service in the future.”