Mentoring is a learning relationship that includes listening, advising, planning, challenging, supporting and sharing experiences. In the SGSSS programme, mentoring can be understood as: “A confidential active learning process whereby an experienced, empathic person (the mentor) facilitates the development of another individual (the mentee).” 

Mentees are proactive partners in this relationship, and they drive the learning: They set objectives for their own learning, lead the agenda for the one-to-one sessions, and decide how best to use their time. Mentors are volunteering developmental partners who complement key figures in postgraduate support (e.g., supervisors, advisors, academic mentors) and existing support structures and points of contact. 

For a successful mentoring relationship, the total time commitment for the programmes is anticipated to be around eight hours. Core activities will entail:   

• Mentoring launch event, which brings all mentors and mentees together in person (2 hours) 
• Four individual virtual meetings between mentor and mentee (1 hour each)  
• Mentoring learning and support,  information and resources for new mentors and mentees (1 hour) 
• Mentors and mentees feedback to contribute ideas for continuous improvement (1 hour)

Pairing process  

SGSSS will invite applications from PhD students, RSE Fellows and alumni who would like to participate in the programme. Then, based on their mutual interests and career aspirations, SGSSS will match mentors to mentees and facilitate introductions. 

Structure  

The programme will launch with an in-person welcome event at the Royal Society of Edinburgh—details will be confirmed closer to the time. The event will introduce mentors and mentees to the programme and give you space for an introductory discussion.   

After the launch event, we propose a minimum of  four meetings of one hour each over a period of up to twelve  months:  

• Introduction and negotiation of the relationship (Meeting 1)  
• Mentee’s career aspirations, challenges and opportunities (Meeting 2)  
• Careers exploration, industry insights (Meeting 3)   
• Career planning, CV reviews, interview tips based on mentor’s experience (meeting 4) 
  

Monitoring and evaluation  

The SGSSS team will be in touch regularly to hear how the experience is going and help to make it even better through check-in emails  and an end of programme evaluation survey with an opportunity to provide further feedback

Measures of success  

• Mentees’ career awareness is enhanced through increased opportunities for exploring a career pathways of their choice, exposure to different ways of adopting research thinking, methodologies and approaches within post-PhD contexts, and developing networks and career advice.
• Mentees feel engaged in their professional development when they can negotiate the terms of their mentoring needs with their mentor as the relationship develops.   
• Mentors feel they are contributing to the professional development of the future workforce and nurturing leadership talent. 
• Mentors and mentees have a deeper understanding of each other’s worlds.