Mentoring students in Ireland continues to grow through The B!G Idea, and last week we met with our incredible mentors to reflect on our first year and explore future improvements. Their feedback shows just how powerful mentoring students in Ireland can be when education and industry work together. Overall, the response was extremely positive, with mentors sharing valuable insights and ideas to strengthen the programme even further.
Mentors shared fantastic feedback about their experience. Comments such as “Loved the whole experience,” “The branding is excellent,” “The challenge was brilliant,” and “The platform was intuitive” were heard throughout the session. Most importantly, every mentor agreed that supporting and mentoring students in Ireland through The B!G Idea is both rewarding and enjoyable. Many said they would happily take part again.
However, mentors also shared helpful suggestions. Some experienced minor email issues and asked for clearer communication from the start. Others requested more guidance on time commitments and expectations. In addition, several mentors suggested creating a simple judging guide to support evaluation. Since many work with third-level students, they wanted clearer standards for Transition Year level.
Looking ahead, mentors are eager to become even more involved. They would like regular updates on student projects and more opportunities to engage with the programme. For example, some suggested viewing all projects while grading only assigned ones. Others proposed mentoring and judging the same teams from start to finish to strengthen relationships and outcomes.
Mentors also expressed interest in stronger collaboration with teachers. They suggested shared chat spaces, joint sessions, and mentoring briefings for teachers. As a result, teachers could better support students throughout the creative process.
Importantly, mentors highlighted a clear gap in education that mentoring students in Ireland can help address. The B!G Idea continues to bridge this gap by connecting young people with industry professionals and real-world experience. Every mentor left the session feeling inspired and eager to stay involved.
With such talent, generosity, and commitment behind the programme, the future of mentoring students in Ireland through The B!G Idea looks brighter than ever.
