Intercultural Career Mentoring Program

Description

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A GLOBAL CAREER IN ENGINEERING AND IT?

The Intercultural Career Mentoring Program is aimed at students who are interested in gaining global perspectives on their future career paths. We are once again offering this bespoke program in 2026.

Applications will be opening later in Semester 1 to participate in this Semester 2 program.

2026 details coming soon! Read on to find out more about the 2025 program.

For graduates, even with acquired degrees and technical skills, it is often local knowledge of workplaces and lack of intercultural experience that present barriers to employment. This applies as much to Australian students seeking work in international companies, here or abroad, as it does to international students graduating and hoping to join the Australian workforce.

This group mentoring program, allows students to connect and network in small groups, with a cross section of Engineering & IT professionals, from a range of discipline areas and cultural backgrounds. Participants will be assigned to a group with a diverse range of fellow students and mentors from industry who have received detailed cross-cultural training specific to the professional context of the engineering and IT sectors.

Benefits

In today’s globalised workplace, organisations regularly point out the need for globally transferable skills and knowledge, strong communication skills, adaptability, and problem-solving in culturally diverse environments. These are key skills for anyone planning for a career with a global dimension.

Through the Intercultural Career Mentoring Program, students will be exposed to essential intercultural communications and interactions skills, which will be co-designed by alumni, industry partners, and academics.

Participating in the Intercultural Career Mentoring Program is an opportunity to:

Engage in a rigorous training to develop your skills in local and global cultural and career knowledge
Gain confidence and career direction whilst building networks with like-minded peers and mentors in Engineering and IT
Develop a diverse perspective of what your future career could look like and how to adjust to the working world from professionals
Advance your career plan, align your goals to your values and be more informed about graduate study and career options
Improve your chances of securing a job or graduate admission by developing a professional CV and practicing your professional communication skills

Components

This program will equip you with the cross-cultural competencies and international skillset required in a well-rounded graduate with a skill set that extends well beyond the technicalities of your degree discipline.

Whether you are a student looking to work in Australia, planning to join a global organisation, or someone who hopes to gain work experience overseas, join this program to take the first step towards developing a truly global mindset!

The program is composed of 2 main strands, and students are required to participate in all components to successfully complete the program:

The Program Launch Day consists of two sessions. The first session will guide you through developing your intercultural skills, and in the second session you will meet your mentors and fellow group members. Main training topics will include:
- Different aspects of the local and global knowledge important for employment, including expectations of local and international employers, established workplace processes in local and international organisations, and hierarchical structure in local and international organisations.
- Intercultural resilience and mindfulness including cultural self-awareness and socio-linguistic awareness, openness and curiosity to different opinions, cultural sensitivities in work discussions and interviews, and listening and observing skills.
Session 1: Mentee Training
Wednesday 6 August 2025, 1 - 5:30PM
This will be the first session in the Intercultural Career Mentoring Program. The session is designed to create an uplift in the benefits of any mentoring process by increasing both levels of cultural awareness and specific intercultural skills.
During the session, participants will create their own personal cultural profile to highlight how their own cultural background influences many common behaviours.
From here they will create templates for dealing respectfully with people whose cultural background differs from their own.
The session integrates activities designed to clearly demonstrate the differences that are usually unconsciously disregarded or assumed to be non-existent.
Direct outcomes for participants of this session are:
- To be able to identify their own personal cultural orientation.
- To be able to critically analyse any intercultural situation.
- To correctly use templates that assist mentees in applying their intercultural skills until these skills become fully integrated in a mentee’s behaviour.
- To understand when cultural differences may not require a modification in behaviour.
As indirect outcomes of this training, participants will have a better understanding of the intercultural barriers to employment and how to mitigate risk factors as well as increased confidence in dealing with people from an unfamiliar background.
Session 2: Mentor Introduction
Wednesday 6 August 2025, 6 - 8PM
This will be the second session in the Intercultural Career Mentoring Program. In this component you will meet your mentors and fellow mentees. The mentors and mentees will be from various fields of Engineering and IT as well as various different cultural backgrounds, however have similar goals to achieve from the program. You will have the opportunity to share experiences and advice, connect and learn from each other.
In the weeks following the Mentor Introduction, we encourage you and your group to continue your mentoring conversation via online platforms.
Participants are invited to attend specialist mentor sessions introducing professional concepts and behavioural concepts of cultures of four culturally different business environments.
Please note that you should attend at least two to qualify for the program Melbourne Plus credential. The two sessions must focus on cultures that differ from your personal cultural background. You are welcome to attend more than two if you would like to do so.
Australia Focus: Thursday 14th August 5pm
Professor Shanton Chang is a leading expert in international education, global employability, andcross-cultural communication. A recipient of the IEAA Distinguished Contribution to InternationalEducation Award and the 2024 North Star Medal of Lifetime Achievement, he was also namedone of PIE News’ Top 50 Voices in International Education (Australia–ASEAN) in 2023.Shanton isknown for driving strategic initiatives that prepare students for global careers. He works closelywith industry to enhance graduate employability. His research explores how international studentsnavigate digital and cultural spaces, shaping inclusive practices in higher education. Withextensive leadership experience and a strong cross-sector network, he brings global perspectiveand impact to the evolving field of international education.
China Focus: Friday 22nd August 1pm
Julia Gong is the Director of Arts and Culture as well as the Head of the China Capability andLanguage Centre, Asialink at the University of Melbourne. Julia obtained her Master of Education atthe University of Melbourne in 2003. She joined the University of Melbourne in 2007. As one ofAustralia's leading cross-cultural educators and advisors, with 35 years' language and cross-culturaltraining experience, Julia was the leading course developer and key presenter of the culturalintelligence courses at Asialink. She has delivered tailored in-house training sessions for clients froma variety of industries. Julia's negotiation skills, strong communication skills and her extensivecontacts both in China and Australia make her an expert in partnership establishment anddevelopment across cultures
India Focus: Tuesday 26th August 1pm
Juhee Ahmed is a strategic adviser with deep expertise in India–Australia engagement, technology, and higher education partnerships. As Strategic Adviser at the University of Melbourne (2023–2025), she has driven India strategy, helped launch the university’s first dual degree in India, and supported the Melbourne Global Centre in Delhi. With over 15 years in India’s tech industry, including leadership roles at Microsoft India Development Centre and IIT Hyderabad’s deep-tech incubator, Juhee brings cross-cultural fluency, strategic insight, and a vast network across business, government, startups, and academia in India, Australia, and the US. Her Australian–Indian heritage and experience in communications and social impact give her a unique edge in building global collaborations.
Western Europe and USA Focus: Thursday 4th September 1pm
Ulrike Ernst is an experienced, MBA-qualified leader with a broad background across industries and cultures. She holds degrees in engineering, business administration, marketing, and human resources, earned in Germany, Australia,the US, and Ireland.
Her career has spanned senior roles in global companies such as Swatchgroup, BSH Home Appliances, Bosch Power Tools, Metabo, and Hilti, working across customer service, business development, marketing, and operations. Ulrike has lived and worked in Ireland, Germany, Australia, and the US, and has worked extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Thursday 18 September 2025, 5:30 - 7:30PM
The final event of this program will be the Celebration and Networking Event. Here you will be invited to come along to network and connect with all the participants of the program. An opportunity to build connections and further your professional partnerships whilst in real time putting your learning from the program to practice, as well as to build connections with the other mentors and students in the program who aren't in your immediate group. This is a great opportunity to learn more from the mentors about the industries in which they are working - industries you may move into following graduation.

Timeline and Details

The following training and events for this program will take place in person on the University of Melbourne campus. We ask that you make yourself available for the three in-person events plus the mentoring period to make the most of this program.

Wednesday 6 August 2025

1 - 8PM

PROGRAM LAUNCH DAY

Mentee Training, 1 - 5:30PM

On this day, the first part of the training will be a cross-cultural training session. This will help raise your awareness of how different cultures approach interactions and problems differently, and help you develop strategies to overcome difficulties and leverage the benefits of diverse team viewpoints and approaches.

Mentor Introduction, 6 - 8PM

Following the training session, mentees and mentors will be introduced, and a session run to help you put into practice the lessons of the day. You will get to know your mentors and fellow group members, and start to explore how heightened understanding of intercultural issues can improve your understanding and enjoyment of working in and leading intercultural teams.

Location (for both sessions): The Studio, Ground Floor, Melbourne Connect Building (700 Swanston Street)

6 August - 18 September 2025

MENTORING PERIOD

Online Engagement

At times mutually agreed upon by your mentee/mentor group.

Following the formal introduction, you will have a period of six weeks in which we encourage you to work closely with your mentors to learn more about them, their industries, and how they have implemented intercultural skills and the understanding of diverse cultures to better perform or to improve outcomes for their team, business or employer.

This is also a good time to learn about your fellow mentees. You will come from varied backgrounds and areas of study, much as your future colleagues will as you enter the workforce. Take this opportunity to make friendships outside your degree, learn about their interests, studies, and plans for the future. Explore how your disciplines might work together in industry. These might be your future collaborators in the workplace!

Location: Online - preferred platform to be decided by the group members. You are also welcome to meet in person if this is mutually suitable.

Specialist Mentor Masterclasses

During this period you will be invited to a series of exclusive masterclasses. Learn from experts about corporate culture and general workplace expectations across different cultures.

Location: Online

Thursday 18 September 2025

5:30 - 7:30PM

CELEBRATION AND NETWORKING EVENING

A final in-person catch up with your group, plus an opportunity to network with other mentors, students and University staff.

Location: The Studio, Ground Floor, Melbourne Connect Building (700 Swanston Street)

Eligibility Criteria

To be accepted into the program students need to meet the eligibility criteria.

Be enrolled in a FEIT Postgraduate Coursework Degree

This program is only available to students enrolled in a postgraduate coursework degree with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.

Only students from the below courses are eligible to participate in this program:

Master of Engineering
(all specialisations)
Master of Biomedical Engineering
Master of Chemical Engineering
Master of Civil Engineering
Master of Electrical Engineering
Master of Environmental Engineering
Master of Mechatronics Engineering
Master of Software Engineering
Master of Digital Infrastructure Engineering

Master of Industrial Engineering
Master of Mechanical Engineering
Master of Computer Science
Master of Information Systems
Master of Information Technology
Master of Engineering Structures
Master of Environmental Systems Engineering
Master of Engineering Management
Master of Energy Systems

Situated in Melbourne during Semester 2

As this program will be taking place in-person on Parkville campus, only students that are able to attend all the components of the program in-person at Parkville campus are eligible for this program.
If you are not in Melbourne currently, but intend to be in Melbourne by Semester 2, then you are able to participate in the program.
Available to attend all program events

This program is comprised of three components:
1. Program Launch Day (Mentee Training & Mentor Introduction)
2. Online engagement and discussions with your mentor and fellow mentees
3. Celebration and Networking Evening
To be eligible for the program, students must be available and dedicated to attend both the in-person events taking place within the program, as well as committed to actively interacting during the online component.
Submit your Application

Applications are now open! Applications close 6 July 2025.

Intercultural Career Mentoring Program