SGSSS runs two flagship mentoring programmes that are designed to support PhD students to explore the skills, knowledge and experience that will support your future careers within or out with academia. 

Mentoring is a learning relationship that includes elements of listening, advising, planning, challenging, supporting and sharing experience. In the SGSSS programmes 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 that complement key figures in postgraduate support (e.g., supervisors, advisors, academic mentors) and existing support structures and points of contact. 

Applications for our 2024/25 mentoring schemes will open soon.