The Benefits of Setting Up the Mentoring Programmes
Setting up mentoring programmes is highly relevant for both institutions and researchers, fostering a relationship that enhances professional development and institutional growth. From an institutional perspective, mentoring programs contribute to a more engaged and satisfied workforce. They help in attracting and retaining talented researchers by demonstrating a commitment to professional development and career advancement. Institutions benefit from improved research output, increased grant acquisition rates, and enhanced collaboration opportunities, which are critical for maintaining competitiveness in the academic arena. Moreover, successful mentoring relationships can lead to higher levels of engagement among faculty and researchers, fostering a positive institutional culture that supports innovation and excellence that. Mentoring is highly relevant for young researchers and groups such as refugee researchers because it fosters professional development and institutional growth. For these groups, mentoring can provide crucial support and guidance, enhancing their integration into academic environments and promoting their career advancement. By establishing mentoring programs, institutions can demonstrate a commitment to the development of these individuals, which is essential for their success and retention.
Beyond the institutional level, mentoring programmes also have significant benefits for regions and countries. By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, these programs can contribute to regional economic growth through increased research output and entrepreneurship. Mentoring helps retain and develop local talent, reducing brain drain and ensuring that skilled professionals contribute to their home regions. Additionally, mentoring can promote cultural exchange and understanding, especially in diverse regions, by fostering inclusive environments that support diverse perspectives. Ultimately, regions and countries that invest in mentoring programmes can enhance their global competitiveness by developing a skilled and innovative workforce.
Academic mentoring programmes for international PhD students
A useful tool for searching for inspirational examples and practices for esablishing acedemic mentoring programmes for international PhD students is Uniwlis practice explorer that you can access here: https://app.uniwelis.saia.sk/practice . Below we have already listed a few examples that are also listed in the Uniwelis tool such as guidance on how to set up a mentoring programme, how to establish a virtual meeting place for mentors and mentees as well as the example of the existing network of mentoring programmes - eument-net. Moreover, on this page you can also access information about special mentoring programmes for coaches of refugee researchers.
Guidance on setting up a mentoring programme for PhD students
The Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences provides support on establishing an institutional mentoring programme and offers its own mentoring programme, which consists of a two-month series of workshops and meetings helping students a) to define their career goals and the steps needed to achieve them (an Introductory Workshop organized in cooperation with the Centre for Gender and Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences), b) meet scientists and researchers from various fields (and at different stages of their career) who share their experience and advice, c) network with their peers.
Find out more: https://www.phdmentoring.cz/#about
Virtual meeting place for mentors and mentees
All PhD students at Karolinska Institutet (KI) are entitled to have a mentor, but it can be hard to establish new connections, especially during pandemics. Therefore, the Doctoral Students' Association in collaboration with KI career service has created a virtual meeting place to find a suitable mentor within or outside of academia willing to give advice for any question PhD students might have.
Find out more: https://www.phdsa.se/mentor/
European Network of Mentoring Programmes
eument-net is a network of mentoring programmes for the advancement of equal opportunities and cultural and institutional change in academia and research. The network pursues the following goals:
fostering the exchange of experience and best practice among mentoring programmes coordinators;
promoting quality standards and highlighting the role of mentoring for the promotion of gender equality and diversity;
supporting the transfer of knowledge and expertise;
facilitating cooperation among programmes and the promotion of new mentoring activities;
putting mentoring on science policy agendas.
Find out more: https://www.eument-net.eu/
Programme for Supporting Coaches of Refugee Researchers
EURAXESS Bulgaria has developed the Programme for Supporting Coaches of Refugee Researchers to assist individuals who wish to mentor and support refugee researchers. This initiative provides several online tools aimed at enhancing the capabilities of coaches in both academic and industrial settings.
Key Features of the Programme
Online Tools: The programme includes a variety of online resources designed for coaches:
Basic and Advanced Tools for Academic Coaches: These tools cater to academic representatives who may have limited experience in coaching refugee researchers.
Basic and Advanced Tools for Industrial Coaches: Similar resources are available for those in industrial contexts, enabling a broader range of support for refugee researchers transitioning into various sectors.
Mentoring Opportunities: The programme encourages participation from both experienced and early-stage researchers, fostering a collaborative environment where knowledge and expertise can be shared. This initiative is part of a broader effort to integrate refugee researchers into the European research community, enhancing their professional relationships and career development.
Accessibility: Registration for participation in the programme is free and designed to be straightforward, allowing interested individuals to quickly engage with the resources provided.
Intersectoral mentoring
This section is designed to offer insights into the implementation of intersectoral mentoring programmes.
REBECA Mentoring Programme
REBECA, Researchers Beyond Academia - part of the EURAXESS initiative, includes a mentoring program designed to support early career researchers in exploring career opportunities beyond academia. The program aims to connect these researchers with experienced professionals from various sectors, facilitating valuable networking and skill development.
Program is aimed at early career researchers, including PhD candidates and those who have completed their PhD within the last eight years.
Participants are paired with mentors who are typically professionals working in research-related fields but not necessarily in academic positions. This includes research managers and industry professionals.
Mentors share their experiences and insights into non-academic career paths, helping mentees reflect on their career goals and options.
Program Objectives:
- Facilitate intergenerational, intersectoral, and intercultural networking among research professionals.
- Support talent transfer from academia to the private sector.
- Provide exposure to diverse professional careers through mentorship
The program includes online training sessions, networking events, and virtual meetings between mentors and mentees. Each mentoring relationship typically lasts six months, with an average of one meeting per month expected.
Interested mentees must register on the designated platform, complete a questionnaire about their interests, and submit a CV. The matching process considers both the mentee's interests and the mentor's expertise.
For more information about the mentoring programme visit the Rebeca HUB section.
The Guide to Implement an Intersectoral Mentoring Programme outlines a structured approach for organizations aiming to establish effective mentoring relationships across different sectors. This guide is designed to facilitate collaboration between mentors and mentees from diverse professional backgrounds, enhancing knowledge transfer and professional development.
The components of the guide include:
1. Design Phase that focuses on defining the program's objectives, structure, and rules, which are essential for creating a successful mentoring environment.
2. Attraction of Participants - Efforts are made to engage a wide range of potential mentors and mentees, promoting the program's benefits and encouraging participation from various sectors.
3. Selection and Matching - A systematic process is implemented to select participants based on their qualifications and interests, ensuring that mentors and mentees are paired effectively for optimal outcomes.
4. Mentoring Phase - During this phase, structured interactions between mentors and mentees take place, focusing on skill development, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities tailored to the participants' needs.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation - Continuous assessment of the mentoring relationships is conducted to gauge progress and effectiveness, with feedback collected from participants to inform improvements.
6. Lessons Learned - At the conclusion of the program, insights are documented to refine future mentoring initiatives, ensuring that best practices are identified and applied in subsequent iterations.
By incorporating these components, the guide aims to support organizations in creating impactful intersectoral mentoring programs that foster professional growth and collaboration across various fields.
EURAXESS Researcher Beyond Academia hub toolkit
Note for members of EURAXESS network:
If you are a member of EURAXESS network and you are interested in knowing more about the inter-sectoral mentoring, you can also access the materials from the Virtual Study Tour - Inter-sectoral networking for researchers: what we have learnt from the REBECA programme HERE