Case Study: Institute of Development Studies grows mentoring engagement with ToucanTech

Making matches Mentoring at the Institute of Development Studies

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS), a global development studies research institute, wanted to grow and better manage mentoring for its worldwide alumni community. Working with ToucanTech and its online community platform, IDS needed an easier way to encourage more alumni to sign up as mentors and to help ensure mentors and mentees had clear expectations and useful resources.

ToucanTech helped IDS build a mentoring programme into its platform, adding sign-up prompts during registration, workshops for mentors, guidance materials for both mentors and mentees, and a dedicated alumni mentors’ group. The programme grew from 118 mentors in 2019 to over 400 mentors, while initiatives such as Virtual Connections helped broaden engagement and give current students more opportunities to connect with alumni.

Institute of Development Studies

Michelle Cruickshank

Alumni Relations Officer