Athena SWAN Charter

Athena SWAN Mentoring

What is Mentoring?

”The purpose of mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their performance and become the person they want to be." - Parsloe, 2000

What is it About?

As a Mentee you will be encouraged to challenge your assumptions, broaden your horizons, raise your aspirations and increase your achievements through individualised support. Your mentor should be a sounding board, offering guidance through periods of instability and career growth, helping you to manage change and ultimately empowering you to improve your self-confidence and self-awareness.

As a Mentor you will not only gain the satisfaction of watching your mentee progress, but you will also have the opportunity to practice your leadership and management skills, develop your communication and interpersonal skills and gain a broader and deeper understanding of your own working environment.

Quotes

Mentoring can help you remember the bigger picture of your career when you’re caught up in the, often time-consuming, day-to-day tasks.

Mentoring offers a confidential place in which you can discuss concerns, whether they are job-specific or involve personal issues which you feel may impact your career .

Mentee Case Study

I think that mentoring is crucial within an academic environment because of the diverse areas of an academic role which go beyond subject knowledge, such as leadership, grant application, disseminating research and engaging the public as well as developing research led teaching.

It is of particular importance for staff (like me) who have transferred from a clinical field into the university as it helps us gain a different perspective and adjust to a different culture in order to be able to participate more fully and compete in the university setting to try to develop research to a sufficient quality.

Finally, it also gives me an opportunity to discuss wider issues such as developing a career, navigating the world of research, juggling family responsibilities and learning from someone who has successfully managed all of these. Mentee in IPHS

Mentor Case Study

I was mentored earlier in my career through a scheme in the North West supporting women in STEMM subjects. I benefitted so much from the experience. Now it is my turn to give something back. I want to encourage women (and men) like myself to reach their potential. Using my professional and personal experiences I feel able to support others in achieving their aims, navigating the universities and negotiating a work-life balance. Previously I have informally mentored colleagues and students but now it is time to take this role on more formally.

I meet monthly with my mentee, or more frequently if it is required. I work to her agenda and support her in her decision making process. Although we have agreed to work for twelve months we are flexible enough to shorten or lengthen our mentoring arrangement as is needed.

The training provided by the University for mentors was helpful and made me think clearly about what the role of mentor involved and how I might best use my own skills to support my mentee. Mentor in IPHS

How to get involved?

There are two ways of getting involved in mentoring. The University runs a mentoring network for staff in the University. In addition, the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester have arranged a cross-institutional network, whereby staff involved in the Athena SWAN initiative have the opportunity to select a mentor from another University.

More details on mentoring

To register as a Mentee

To register as a Mentor

A Mentor and Mentee’s Guide to Mentoring

Upcoming Training Dates