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Mentoring at Ulster University
What is Mentoring?
You have probably been mentored at some point in your life. Think back to a time when someone took an interest in your welfare, shared their own experience and knowledge with you and enabled you to develop.
In essence this is what mentoring is all about – an enabling relationship based on an exchange of knowledge, experience and goodwill.
In line with Ulster University ‘People, Place and Partnership’ strategy to ensure that every member of the community is enabled to achieve their full potential, 'Mentoring at Ulster University provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. This aligns with our reputation as an institution that places a high value on support and developing its people.
At Ulster University we are promoting a developmental approach to mentoring, this is based on a high level of two-way learning and on helping the mentee with the quality of their thinking around issues that are important to them. It is about supporting the mentees' learning and development, particularly as they experiences some sort of change.
Mentoring
According to David Clutterbuck, a global authority on mentoring, “A mentor is an individual who is willing to help someone less experienced gain confidence, clearer purpose, insight and wisdom”.
A mentor is typically more experienced than their mentee but does not need to know the details of their role. Instead, a mentor tends to have good organisational knowledge and can pass on experience and open doors to otherwise out-of-reach opportunities.
A mentor provides support with personal and career development.
The most common applications of mentoring are at times when there is a need for the mentee to significantly change how they think and behave and how they identify and solve problems, examples would be:
- For new starters, to support them in navigating the new environment.
- Major transitions of role, for example when taking on management responsibility or moving department
- Career planning, making decisions confidently, setting and achieving clear development goals.
- Developing new and/or better working relationships
- Return to work after period of absence
- Gaining a better work-life balance / sense of wellbeing
The key function of the mentor is to help people find their way through these changes, sharing when appropriate their own experiences of the same transition.
This includes:
- Increased motivation, productivity and performance,
- Improved interpersonal relationships, communication and networks,
- More awareness for both mentees and mentors of their own personal impact,
- Clearer idea of career path or goals,
- Better understanding of what is required in their role,
- Greater confidence,
- Easier integration into a new role, institution, culture, or country.
Ready to make a difference?
Signing up to one of our mentoring schemes is a great opportunity for you to share your knowledge, skills and experience, support the personal and professional growth of colleagues and make a lasting impact on our university community.
To find out more and sign up for the scheme that best suits you click the link below to access the Mentoring at Ulster guide. You'll find full details and direct sign-up links for our online mentoring system, SUMAC, links on pages 15–17 and detailed guidance notes on page 33.
Take the next step in your development!
Ulster's mentoring schemes are designed to support your personal and professional growth. As a mentee, you’ll gain valuable insights, improve your confidence and learn from the experience of colleagues who are ready to support your journey.
To find out more and sign up for the scheme that best suits you click the link below to access the Mentoring at Ulster guide. You'll find full details and direct sign-up links for our online mentoring system, SUMAC, links on pages 15–17 and detailed guidance notes on page 33.
