Advancing Your Research Career

Mentoring

An active mentor is an experienced academic who by mutual consent takes an active interest in the mentee's professional and academic development. They are a trusted guide, provider of wise counsel, confidant, advice giver, advocate, advisor, and role model who takes time and demonstrates commitment to the mentoring relationship.

The focus of the ARC programme is on the development of independence, leadership, management and engagement skills of those independent researchers in the early stages of their careers. The role of the Mentor is to provide support and guidance during the course of the ARC programme.
Mentors will have the following characteristics:

experienced senior academics or researchers;
highly respected in their community;
committed to the goals of the programme and
available to give time to support the mentee.

The ARC programme consists of 10 online modules as outlined previously along with 9 masterclasses and it is envisaged that the mentor and mentee will meet once a month or once every two months during the 8 month period (and hopefully beyond) to provide guidance, feedback and support.

These meetings should be short, informal and no preparatory work of the mentor is expected. Dates and times of meetings should be agreed at the outset. The content of mentoring discussions between mentor and mentee is confidential. However, a mentor is obliged to seek advice and guidance if they have concerns for the wellbeing of the mentee.

All mentors will receive a full briefing prior to the commencement of the programme. This will include: