The CBA Foundation has recently unveiled the Chula WISE program (Chula Wisdom for Self-Enrichment) designed for students at Chulalongkorn University. This innovative initiative has evolved from the highly successful ChAMP (Chulalongkorn Alumni Mentorship Program) pioneered by the Chulalongkorn Business School (CBS), which has been a cornerstone for undergraduate mentorship, facilitating invaluable learning experiences from alumni. This model has transcended educational boundaries, becoming a benchmark for several public and private organizations alike, thus setting a new course for personal and professional development.
Given the soaring demand from students eager to unlock their potential, ChAMP ingeniously embraced online technologies, giving birth to Chula WISE—an online platform that transcends traditional classroom boundaries, epitomizing the essence of lifelong learning. In this ‘New Normal’ era, universities are tasked with empowering undergraduates, fostering strong foundational growth essential for thriving in an ever-evolving global landscape.
Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, Acting President of Chulalongkorn University, emphasized that the university’s mission extends beyond education alone; it aims to be an educational incubator, nurturing students to forge prosperous career paths. Knowledge and experience, coupled with intellectual and wisdom development, form the crux of this mission. At the heart of this strategy lies the universal value of cultivating robust relationships among peers, seniors, juniors, and lecturers—alliances that serve as stepping stones to future career progression. Dr. Puriwat fondly highlights the strength of Chulalongkorn University, which stems from the unwavering support of its alumni, uniting to build a formidable nation and society.
“Our objective is to transform Chulalongkorn University into a hub of Future Global Leaders by bridging connections between the university and all societal sectors,” Prof. Dr. Wilert articulated. “Learning today isn’t confined to schools or single faculties; students can glean knowledge from diverse sources, broadening their horizons through experienced alumni and experts from various professions. Today, Chula’s mission is to nurture thought leaders.”
Assoc. Prof. M.L. Sawika Unahanandh, Vice President of the CBA Foundation, shares that due to substantial financial backing from CBA (Chulalongkorn Business Administration), the foundation has previously supported initiatives like ChAMP and Coach by ChAMP. They foresee Chula WISE as a Mentoring Platform poised to engage a myriad of students in the mentoring process, allowing them to oscillate between roles of mentors and mentees throughout the year. This dynamic platform enables the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and invaluable experiences imparted by mentors who are industry moguls, visionary entrepreneurs, and alumni of elite global universities such as Stanford, Harvard, MIT, and Cambridge.
Through CBA’s endorsement, the Chula WISE program offers students an opportunity to engage in agenda-based or mentoring-specific sessions via an online platform. This initiative aims to refine students’ skills, crafting graduates who embody exemplary morals, ethics, and leadership capabilities that can innovate and drive business organizations forward.
As the President of Chula WISE and one of its visionary developers, Saranee Boonritthongchai, Country Marketing Manager of Google Thailand, remarked, the prior ChAMP program had a limited annual application window. Chula WISE, however, democratizes access, offering year-round mentorship opportunities with over 50 experts from a wide array of professional fields. These mentors, through sharing experiences and insights, will aid students in understanding organizational dynamics, livelihood strategies, and societal value creation. The program’s On-Demand Monitoring Platform enables learners to schedule personalized mentoring sessions, free of charge.
Saranee is optimistic about the future, envisioning the Chula WISE program’s expansion to other educational institutes across Thailand, magnifying the benefits of this transformative educational development initiative. She added, “Mentoring is a profound capability development process, helping mentees gain self-awareness and refine their thinking. Through reflection, coaching, and advice from mentors, students can harness their full potential and achieve success.”
This year, executives from leading corporations including Google, Microsoft, The Walt Disney Company, Kiatnakin Phatra Bank, and Sea Group have joined Chula WISE as mentors. Current students from all faculties and year levels are encouraged to apply to Chula WISE at wisementorship.org. Keep track of your application status via Facebook: wise.mentoring or Instagram: wise.mentoring.
Applications are open throughout the year.
Introducing this mentorship platform is a game-changer! Chula students are so fortunate to have access to industry moguls as mentors.
I totally agree! But, the challenge is how many students will actively participate? Online platforms often struggle with engagement.
That’s a fair point, Max. Maybe integrating some reward system could keep students more engaged?
Or better marketing, they should show students real success stories to motivate them!
While engagement can be an issue, the access to such high-caliber mentors shouldn’t be underestimated. Even if only a fraction utilize it fully, the impact can be profound.
Isn’t this just another fancy way of universities avoiding in-person investment? A gimmick to save costs?
I think it’s more about adapting to the new normal. Online mentoring can still be very effective if done right.
We’ll see. I’m skeptical until I see real results. Also, what about those without a stable internet connection?
Maybe the university can set up specific areas with stable internet just for mentorship sessions.
The program has the potential to reach a wider audience and makes mentorship more accessible, especially during these unpredictable times.
It’s great to see Chula getting such strong support from successful alumni. This could really set a precedent for other universities.
I wonder if this kind of model could work for smaller universities with less affluent alumni?
That’s an interesting question, Mark. Perhaps smaller universities could collaborate and create a shared platform to maximize resources.
Finally, an initiative that focuses not just on academics but also on personal and professional growth. Kudos to Chula!
The collaboration with tech giants like Google and Microsoft is impressive. But will it lead to biased mentoring favoring tech careers?
It could. But having diverse mentors from various industries should balance things out.
True, but still, tech giants tend to dominate these narratives. Let’s hope they maintain diversity.
This sounds fantastic! But what measures are in place to ensure the quality of mentoring provided?
I’m sure Chula will have evaluation and feedback mechanisms to keep the quality in check.
I wish my university had something similar. It would have helped tremendously in my career preparations.
Great initiative, but how will they handle mentor-mentee incompatibility? Not every pairing will be a match.
Good point, Stephen. Maybe allowing mentees to change mentors or have multiple mentors could solve this?
Exactly, a flexible arrangement would likely be the best approach.
Why focus so much on connecting with alumni? There are many other ways to gain experience and mentorship.
As a current student, I think this is a brilliant idea! I can’t wait to sign up and start learning from top professionals.
Offering free mentorship sessions is a generous initiative, but I worry about the sustainability. How long can this last without additional funding?
Sustainability will definitely be a challenge, but if they show significant impact, more sponsors might come in.
I hope so, Rebecca. It would be a shame if such a promising initiative collapsed due to financial constraints.
If only every university took up such initiatives, the world would be filled with better-prepared graduates.
Indeed! But it’s also about the willingness of alumni to give back. Not every institution has such a strong network.
This is just another step towards the commercialization of education!
Not necessarily, Nina. If done right, it’s about enhancing the educational experience and preparing students for real-life challenges.
How will Chula WISE measure the impact and success of this initiative? Any concrete metrics?
They could track mentee career development post-graduation or gather feedback on mentoring sessions.
Yeah, surveys and follow-up studies would definitely help quantify the program’s impact.
Do mentors come from diverse professional backgrounds or mostly from business schools?
Such initiatives can change lives, but involvement and commitment from students will be the key determinant.
I’ve had mentorship in the past, and it was invaluable. Glad to see Chula WISE offering this on a larger scale.