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Research Mentoring

• Introduction
• Background
• Identification of Research Active Staff
• The Role of a Mentor
• Identification of Mentors
• Allocation of Mentors
• Associated Forms of Support

Allocation of Mentors

Successful mentoring relationships are best achieved in a climate of trust and mutual respect. It is, therefore, essential that both parties enter into the relationship voluntarily and for mentors not to be allocated on a compulsory basis. It is important that research active staff are offered a choice of mentors from the available pool (bearing in mind the associated staff deployment issues) and for prospective mentor and mentee to meet and discuss their mutual expectations etc before agreeing take on these roles. Should that initial meeting indicate that it will not be possible to achieve the necessary climate of trust and respect, then each should feel able to withdraw from the arrangement without prejudice.

Once suitable mentor pairings have been identified the importance of supporting and maintaining such relationships to enable them to be productive requires that the necessary time be allocated to them. This has resource implications and those adopting a mentoring role will have this valued and acknowledged via an agreed allocation of time within their overall workload.

The School Research Committee supports the development of inter-departmental, inter-disciplinary and inter-professional research within the School. Thus whilst in some instances it would be appropriate for a mentee to be offered a mentor from within the same department, there are others where it would be appropriate to consider cross-department pairings.