Bring your own mentor and create a band

180º Academy has two basic principles to ensure relevant learning and development for not only the student but the whole organization:
· All students must submit a letter of recommendation from a person within the company who will act as a mentor throughout the programme
· All students must create a band (team) of individuals in their own company that will serve as a sounding board and will also work with the student on the Company Project

Mentor Role
The role of the mentor is crucial for several reasons.
· The mentor will guarantee the link between the individual project and the company and will coach the student throughout the project process.

· The mentor will act as a door-opener, securing access to knowledge and making sure that the student is allowed the time necessary to complete the project.

· Having a mentor following the process will secure the companys Return On Investment (ROI), as the mentor guarantees that the student will work on a tailor-made project addressing challenges within his or her own company

· Following the process firsthand, the mentor has the opportunity to learn vicariously from the student‟s experiences at 180º Academy.

Band Role
The multidisciplinary Company Band is just as important as the mentor since:

· It will ensure that the Company Project is truly „live‟ and has meaning and relevance to the current needs of the company

· The 180 student acts as a direct facilitator and conduit of knowledge and learning‟s from 180 Academy to his/her company as he/she applies the learning‟s in the Company Project.

The 180 student will learn „on the spot‟ to collaborate across disciplines within the company, have support within the company for following through on the project and the company receives immediate ROI for their educational commitment to the student.