The Mentoring Programme is being launched for a fourth consecutive year following successful partnerships in previous rounds. Dr Lois Calder, Dean of the Graduate School, introduces the programme in the video below. A copy of the slides is also available. The timeline for the programme has since been updated, please see below for more information.
If you would like to be involved, we first ask you to please complete a short application form for PGR mentors or mentees, or for staff and external mentors.
There is an information and training session on Tuesday 25 March between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm. Partnerships will then begin a cycle of mentoring over 10 months from April 2025 to February 2026. The time commitment is approximately 10 x 45 mins meetings, with additional support as agreed in between. Please refer to the Mentoring Programme Handbook for full details on what to expect.
The benefits of mentoring are significant for both mentors and mentees, and we hope you will take full advantage of the programme, which will allow you to develop skills and to enhance your support network!
Previous mentees rated the programme 4.8/5, and some of the best aspects about the programme that they shared are:
• “Meeting a researcher outside my personal PhD project who was supportive and interested in [my subject].”
• “Having an impartial person to ask about the PhD process and for general advice without worry.”
• “The opportunity to receive guidance, support and advice from an experienced mentor helped me to navigate several challenges.”
The benefits from the perspective of mentors are also significant, including reflection, development of leadership and communication skills, and contribution to the development of others, which can bring fulfilment. Our most recent mentors rated the programme 4.9/5, and said that their experience as a participant of the programme was “excellent”. A couple of perspectives from previous mentors are:
• “I really felt I was able to help my mentee and offer useful advice on project and career progression”.
• “It’s always nice to be able to help, even it is to just listen and support with whatever decisions they come to on their own.”