Our work with Industry
The social sciences have a great deal to offer businesses – from understanding the potential for new goods, services and business models to improving relationships with providers, customers and employees.
It is also vital for researchers to engage with businesses in order to understand and develop the potential impacts of their research. The SGSSS runs a number of opportunities to support industry and research collaborations.
SGSSS Career Pathways Mentoring Scheme
SGSSS is piloting a brand new mentoring programme in 2020-21 that will support our current PhD researchers to expand their options and networks for a range of post-PhD careers.
The SGSSS Career Pathways Mentoring Scheme aims to increase the knowledge and capability of social science doctoral students to engage with business, by pairing them with graduates who have succeeded in making the transition to a successful business career or who have substantial experience building academic collaborations with business. It is supported by the Accelerating Business Collaboration (ABC) between SGSSS and the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
What is mentoring? Mentoring is a learning relationship that includes elements of listening, advising, planning, challenge, support and sharing experience. In this 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).”
The general anticipated benefits to mentors include:
- Management and leadership development: self-awareness, active listening, challenging, motivating others, building commitment to action, coaching.
- Increased professional networks, via the mentee, and the other mentees and mentors in the programme cohort.
- Appreciation of the skills and experiences of PhD researchers and the benefit they can bring to private sector organisations.
- Satisfaction of helping others who are transitioning from academic research into other sectors and/or research opportunities.
Applications to mentor as part of the 2021-22 Career Pathways Mentoring Scheme are now closed. If you have any questions, please contact the Programme Managers: team@sgsss.ac.uk.
