The MAB project is made up of different multinational organizations. This is a good opportunity to look at what the mentoring situation is like in these countries. This time we will focus on Poland. Mentoring programs in Poland – although on relatively small scale – have become increasingly significant in both the academic and professional landscapes, reflecting a global trend towards leveraging mentorship for personal and career development.
Observing the trends, one can certainly say that mentoring in Poland is still a relatively new and young phenomenon. Thus, it has not broken through into the popular consciousness as a universal support tool. Mentoring has developed along with trends and large companies and corporates which have started to establish their branches in Poland. These programs span across various sectors, including education, entrepreneurship, technology, and even social sphere, illustrating a comprehensive approach to fostering growth and development. Here's a short analysis of mentoring programs in Poland, considering their structure, objectives, and outcomes.
According to the latest report on mentoring issued by Mentiway we can see, despite its growing popularity, mentoring has not yet managed to settle permanently in Polish companies. Still the most popular are trainings, especially stationary ones, organised within companies (83%), as well as "off-site" - organised by external companies (56%). Mentoring in this ranking is so far the least popular, with a share of around 23%. At the same time, it is worth noting that some companies declare using only unorganised, ad-hoc mentoring (17.3%), while less than 11% of companies use organised mentoring programmes.
Although mentoring is not yet popular among Polish large and medium-sized organizations, a large percentage of companies would like to implement it. 44.1% of respondents answered "definitely yes" or "yes" to the question: "If it were up to you to decide, would you implement mentoring in your organization?"
However, let is note that despite its relatively low popularity today, mentoring has come an already impressive way. A number of open mentoring programmes have emerged, already running on a cyclical basis year after year. Let is take a look on some of them:
Educational Sector
In the educational sector, mentoring programs in Poland primarily focus on supporting students through their academic journeys and preparing them for future careers. Universities and educational institutions often partner with industry professionals to provide students with insights into real-world applications of their studies. These programs aim to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills, enhancing students' employability. To the fact that mentoring is growing in popularity in Polish companies, we should also add the clear presence of this form of development at universities. In most cases, these programmes are organised by careers offices or dedicated business cooperation departments and cover all male and female students at the university.
Authors from Mentiway indicate that these widespread, open mentoring programmes at universities will also result in a further gradual increase in the popularity of mentoring in companies. On the one hand, students become familiar with this form of development and will expect it in their new workplaces. On the other hand, the academic programmes involve large numbers of Mentors and Mentorees, who thus gain knowledge and experience of mentoring and are eager to promote this idea in their companies while offering support to their colleagues.
One of the examples could be: The “Mentorship Program for Students” by the Warsaw University of Technology. The Program pairs students with alumni and professionals in their field of study, providing mentorship on career development, networking, and professional growth.
Professional Development
Professional mentoring programs are prevalent in Poland's growing economy, especially in sectors like technology, entrepreneurship, and business. These programs are designed to support professionals at various stages of their careers, from emerging talents to experienced executives seeking to expand their horizons.
The “Future Leaders Program” is an initiative that targets young professionals displaying leadership potential, offering them mentorship from established leaders in their fields, along with workshops and networking opportunities.
Technology and Startups
Poland's technology sector has seen rapid growth, with startups playing a pivotal role. Mentoring programs within this ecosystem focus on providing entrepreneurs and tech professionals with the guidance needed to navigate the challenges of launching and scaling a startup.
The “Foundation for Polish Science” runs programs that connect young scientists and tech entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, helping them to commercialize research, secure funding, and navigate the startup ecosystem.
The Dare IT Mentoring Programme is a not-for-profit project run by Dare IT that aims to support women in finding their first job in IT. This online program helps female job seekers bolster their work portfolios, so that employers have more tangible evidence that candidates can do the work. Called “Challenges,” the program requires participants to work on a specific project, such as building a mobile app or engineering the backend of a digital platform. Working in teams, the women complete a series of tasks and are given feedback from tech executives and other professionals in the field.
Social Inclusion
Several mentoring programs in Poland aim to foster social inclusion, targeting underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. These initiatives focus on providing equal opportunities for professional and personal development, often supported by NGOs, government programs, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Poland” is an example of a mentoring program aimed at supporting the personal development of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by connecting them with adult mentors.
Mentoring programme offered by Stowarzyszenie Centrum Wolontariatu. The program answers the question of how to support volunteer coordinators in non-governmental organizations and public institutions, who constantly pay attention to the need for in-depth, systematic reflection. Their challenges mainly concerned managerial competences, time management and using their strengths at work.
While observing the mentoring status in Poland we could indicate several challenges.
- Scaling and Accessibility: Expanding the reach of successful mentoring programs to a wider audience, including remote or underserved communities.
- Quality Assurance: Ensuring the quality of mentorship and maintaining high standards across diverse programs and sectors.
- Measuring Impact: Quantifying the outcomes and long-term impact of mentoring initiatives on mentees' careers and personal development.
To conclude: mentoring programs in Poland are successively making a significant impact on individuals and communities by providing valuable guidance, fostering professional and personal growth, and enhancing employability and social inclusion. It can be observed on many levels and in many different sectors. As these programs continue to evolve, they present an opportunity to address key challenges through innovation, collaboration, and a focused approach to measuring and scaling impact.
This material was made by Stowarzyszenie Centrum Wolontariatu, polish Mentoring HUB in our project. If you would have any questions – please contact: Szymon Knitter
