ABOUT WiSE
Our mission is to support the success of young women transitioning from their undergraduate education to a career in science or engineering, and to prepare and mentor them to remain in scientific careers.
GOALS OF PROGRAM
- To provide students with tools and strategies to enable them to succeed in their future careers in science and engineering.
- To raise students’ awareness about the issues faced by women with careers in science and engineering.
BENEFITS OF MENTORING
Students
Share life experiences and learn from a mentor’s challenges and achievements
Start building a professional network.
Get specific career-building advice, including tips on resumés and interviews, ways to track industry trends, and how to make a successful transition to professional life.
Improve communication skills.
Gain clarity on career, academic, and personal plans.
Mentors
Give back some of the support and inspiration you have received throughout your career.
Make contacts within your industry and build your professional network.
Improve your communication and leadership skills.
Develop or maintain connections to UBC and contribute to efforts to build a stronger industry and community.
Contribute to the future of your field or industry by assisting the next generation of leaders.
OUR RESEARCH
The WiSE Mentoring Program at the Okanagan Campus of The University of British Columbia was developed to support students as they start to build their careers. Students find the mentoring invaluable, but mentors also experience rich and sometimes unexpected benefits.
Mentees and mentors participating in the WiSE Mentoring Program MUST participate in a longitudinal evaluation research project.
The purpose of this research is to examine how formal mentoring programs contribute to young women’s academic success and their transition into professional careers or graduate study.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
- to gain insight to the mentorship program by examining the activities and outcomes of the program
- to assess the impacts of the program by identifying the successes and areas for growth, which will allow us to strengthen the services offered and methods of delivery
- to understand how the program has affected participants in terms of their immediate and long-term academic and career goals
Given our intention of evaluating the usefulness of this program, the longitudinal study is a requirement of participation in the WiSE Mentoring Program; however, participation in the mentoring program is voluntary. Individuals can refuse to participate, or withdraw, from the program at any time, and such a decision will not affect their relationship with the University of British Columbia, either now or in the future.
By withdrawing from the WiSE Mentoring Program, individuals are also withdrawing from the longitudinal study; withdrawing from the longitudinal study also means withdrawal from the WiSE Mentoring Program.
PARTICIPATION IN THE LONGITUDINAL STUDY INVOLVES
- September 2024
Pre-program Survey
Mentors and Mentees (20 minutes; online)
- October 2024
WiSE Event #1
Mentors and Mentees (2 hours; in-person)
- October 2024
WiSE Event #2
Mentors and Mentees (2 hours; in-person)
- JANUARY 2025
WiSE Event #3
Mentors and Mentees (2 hours; in-person)
- January 2025
Focus Groups
Mentees (1 hour: in-person or Zoom)
- February 2025
Zoom/Phone Interviews
Mentors (15-20 minutes)
- March 2025
WiSE Event #4
Mentors and Mentees (2 hours; in-person)
- April 2025
Post-program Survey
Mentors and Mentees (20 minutes; online)
HOW TO APPLY
BECOME A MENTEE
Discover how the WiSE Mentoring Program can connect you with experienced mentors, enhance your career prospects, and provide support.
BECOME A MENTOR
Join the WiSE Mentoring Program to inspire and guide the next generation of STEM professionals while enhancing your own leadership skills.
BENEFITS OF MENTORING
Students find the WiSE Mentoring Program invaluable, but industry leaders also experience rich and sometimes unexpected benefits.