Mentors’ Development: Via Sapientis

INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MENTOR PROFESSIONALLY, CONSCIOUSLY AND WITH RESPECT FOR EACH PERSON’S UNIQUE INDIVIDUALITY.

 

Via Sapientis is a development programme for internal and external mentors who want to share their experience in a way that fosters their mentees’ learning, autonomy and professional growth.

Mentoring, as we understand it, is not simply about giving advice or sharing one’s own experience. A skilled mentor can recognise when to offer their perspective and when it is more valuable to listen, ask questions, create space for reflection and support mentees in finding their own way.

The programme therefore develops not only communication and mentoring skills, but also participants’ ability to build developmental relationships consciously, work with the boundaries of their role and reflect on their own influence on another person’s learning.

Via Sapientis was the first programme of its kind in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to receive the EMCC Global Quality Award (EQA) at both Foundation and Practitioner levels.

The EQA confirms that the programme’s content, learning methods and assessment processes meet the international standards of EMCC Global. Graduates who subsequently complete the required amount of mentoring practice and meet the other current requirements of EMCC Global may apply for the EMCC Global Individual Accreditation (EIA) at the corresponding level.

Who is the programme for?

The programme is designed for people who already mentor others or are preparing to take on a mentoring role, particularly:

  • internal mentors within organisations;
  • leaders and managers who support the development of others;
  • experienced professionals who share their expertise with less experienced colleagues;
  • talent and development partners;
  • HR and Learning & Development professionals;
  • people involved in internal mentoring programmes;
  • professionals who wish to mentor beyond their own organisation.

Via Sapientis is primarily delivered as an in-house programme for organisations. Its design can be adapted to the organisational context, the target group of mentors and the purpose of the specific mentoring programme.

How we learn

The programme combines group learning during the modules with ongoing learning and practice between sessions. Participants draw on their own mentoring experience, reflect on their work and develop through feedback, practical experiments and collaboration in small peer groups.

We create a learning environment that is both safe and appropriately challenging, allowing participants to explore uncertainty, mistakes and situations in which they are unsure how to proceed. Our aim is not to teach a single universal model of mentoring, but to help participants build a strong professional framework and gradually develop their own authentic style within it.

What participants will gain from the programme

After completing the relevant level, participants will be able to:

  • clearly articulate their role, responsibilities and the boundaries of mentoring;
  • establish a clear mentoring agreement and create a safe developmental relationship;
  • conduct mentoring conversations with a clear structure and purpose;
  • combine their own experience with skilful questioning, listening and support for reflection;
  • adapt their approach to the needs of the mentee;
  • foster the other person’s autonomy, learning and responsibility;
  • work in accordance with professional and ethical standards;
  • reflect on their own practice and use feedback to support their continuing development.

 

 
TRAINING HAS TWO LEVELS:

  • Foundation: Mentoring Essentials

    2 days of training + 1 day of final assessment

    The Foundation level is designed primarily for people who use mentoring as part of their existing professional or managerial role.

    The programme develops the core competencies and attitudes of a mentor, the ability to establish and agree a clear framework for the mentoring relationship, conduct mentoring conversations and support the mentee’s learning and development. Participants learn to distinguish mentoring from other developmental roles and to combine their own experience thoughtfully with a coaching approach.

    This level provides a strong foundation for high-quality mentoring in everyday organisational practice.

    Practitioner: Professional Mentor

    Three two-day modules + 1 day of final assessment

    The Practitioner level is designed for people who want mentoring to become a significant part of their professional role or who wish to practise as professional mentors, either within or beyond an organisation.

    The programme explores in greater depth the mentoring relationship and agreement, the psychology of motivation and learning, the individual needs of the mentee and the mentor’s reflective practice. Participants broaden their repertoire of interventions, learn to work with more challenging situations and gradually develop their own professionally grounded approach to mentoring.

 

Are you interested in developing mentors within your organisation?

Via Sapientis is delivered as an in-house programme tailored to the needs of your organisation, its mentors and the purpose of your internal mentoring programme.

We would be delighted to discuss which level and format of the programme would best meet your organisation’s needs.

Not Sure Where to Start?

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