Research Mentoring Programme

Page content

What is the Research Mentoring Programme?

The research mentoring programme is a programme to support academic and research staff in building their research capacity and capability.

Experienced researchers will provide focused mentoring support to academic and research staff within their faculty.

Mentoring will be on a one-to-one basis
Each mentorship match will be for six months to a year (depending on the mentoring project and support required)
Mentors and mentees meet a minimum of once every two months with meetings normally lasting 60/90 minutes (face-to-face or online)
Mentoring support can be across all aspects of research, for example: research outputs; research funding; research impact; networking; public engagement; working with industry etc.
Mentees will drive the process, arrange meetings, set and agree agendas, commit to actions emerging from the discussions and be proactive in developing future plans.

Mentoring process

Faculties will review all applications and match mentors with appropriate mentees within the same faculty. Matching will be based on the availability of a suitable mentor in the specified research area who can support the career development of the mentee.

Mentors and mentees will be notified of their match by their faculty.
Training support and guidance is available for mentors and mentees.
First meeting: Mentees must contact their mentor and arrange the first meeting (download first meeting agenda)
At this first meeting, mentors and mentees agree the goals, objectives and principles of mentorship that they would like to achieve during the six month mentoring period (download mentoring goals/objectives form).
Mentors and mentees arrange further meetings and actions (download mentoring action plan) to deliver the outcomes.
- It is recommended that meetings are a minimum of once every two months and normally lasting 60/90 minutes (face-to-face or online).
- It is expected that the mentee will drive the process, arrange meetings, set and agree agendas, commit to actions emerging from the discussions and be proactive in developing future plans.
At the end of the mentoring period, mentors and mentees should review target goals and objectives..

Mentoring Support/Training

Mentoring support and training material, including suggested First Meeting Agenda, Mentor and Mentee Guides, Goals and Objectives Form and Actions plans are available from the mentoring support material below.

As we continue to adapt to new ways of working, we are keen to ensure that the University's research mentoring scheme remains beneficial to all those involved. To this end some thoughts on best practices for effective virtual research mentoring can be found at below.

There is a designated contact for each faculty for the mentoring programme. If you have any queries in relation to your mentoring partnership please contact your faculty contact below.

Mentees

The benefits of being mentored:

There are many benefits to being mentored, including:

support to improve your research performance and confidence
the opportunity to be inspired and encouraged, to tackle challenges and change, and to realise your potential
the opportunity to learn new insights and new approaches
become more research active
an expanded network
the opportunity to challenge your assumptions, broaden horizons and enhance your aspirations and achievements
support for proactive career development, planning and progression

Mentors

The benefits of being a mentor:

There are many benefits to becoming a mentor, including:

the opportunity to inspire and share skills, knowledge, experience and understanding
opportunity to practice and further enhance your leadership and management skills (key aspects of academic career development) as well as your communication and interpersonal skills
personal fulfilment from investing in others
feeling valued as a role model
stimulation of own learning – a two way learning relationship
the opportunity to be challenged
the opportunity to take time out and reflect
a renewed focus on own career and development

Supporting Material

First Meeting Agenda
First Meeting Agenda
A useful suggested agenda for the first meeting and getting to know you sheet.
- Download First Meeting Agenda
- Download Getting to know you sheet
Mentoring Goals and Objectives
The mentoring goals and objectives form is a useful form to help define and set out any goals or objectives from the mentoring process and define the principles of the mentorship and could be used in the first meeting.
- Download Mentoring Goals and Objectives
Mentoring Action Plan
A useful form for setting out and agreeing meeting/next stage actions.
- Download Mentoring Action Plan
Effective Virtual Research Mentoring
Some basic thoughts on what works well and what is less effective when holding and participating in virtual research mentoring meetings.
- Download Effective Virtual Research Mentoring
Mentor Support Training Material
Mentor support information - providing guidance on the mentoring process, structure, direction and feedback process.
- Download Guidance for Mentors
Mentee Support Training Material
Mentee support information - providing guidance on the mentoring process, structure, direction and goals and action plans.
- Download Guidance for Mentees

Contacts

There is a designated contact for each faculty for the mentoring programme. If you have any queries in relation to your mentoring partnership please contact your faculty contact.