The University of Sheffield
Human Resources

Mentoring around the University

The following mentoring schemes for staff and students operate across the University. If you have information about additional schemes, please contact Frances Dee at f.dee@sheffield.ac.uk/ extension 21491 in order that information can be added to this resource.

A. Schemes operated by Human Resources

Two academic mentoring schemes are operated within Human Resources; Impact and Futures.

i. Impact

a) Background

The University currently has a KPI to increase the proportion of female professors to 23% by 2015/2016. As part of the action planned to address this KPI, a mentoring programme aimed at grade 8 female academics was run between November 2008 and May 2009. This focussed on improving confidence in preparing for promotion, as well as generally promoting personal development. Following this successful pilot, mentoring was identified in and promoted by the UEB-endorsed Female Academics' Progression Action Plan. Successful schemes were subsequently run in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011; the 2012/2013 programme is currently underway. The 2013/2014 programme will be advertised in summer 2013.

b) Scope

Impact is available to female grade 8 Lecturers across all faculties.*
Female and male professors are eligible to become mentors.

c) Participant Numbers

To date, 64 staff have participated as mentees , and 39 as mentors.

d) Further Information/Contact Details

Frances Dee, f.dee@sheffield.ac.uk

www.shef.ac.uk/hr/sld/developyourself/women/impact

ii. Futures

a) Background

Futures is a mentoring and work shadowing programme for senior female academics which was initiated by Professor Dominic Shellard (the then PVC for External Affairs) in January 2010 in response to an item on the Female Academics' Progression Action Plan. All Pro-Vice-Chancellors subsequently agreed to mentor senior female academics. The purpose of the mentoring programme was to provide senior female academics with the opportunity to have access to a PVC from outside their faculty to talk about their career progression and to find out about the role of a PVC.  Additionally it was hoped that the role of the PVC would be demystified and so more women would put themselves forward at recruitment stage for these roles.

b) Scope

Futures is available to female Professors across all faculties.* All PVCs participate in the scheme as mentors.

c) Participant Numbers

To date 36 staff have particpated as mentees, and all 8 PVCs as mentors.

d) Further Information/Contact Details

The 2013 programme is currently at the planning stages. If you are interested in the programme and would like to be kept informed of progress please contact Frances Dee.

Frances Dee, f.dee@shef.ac.uk

www.shef.ac.uk/hr/sld/developyourself/women/futures

*NB: a flexible approach is taken when a staff member on another grade expresses an interest in particpating in either scheme as a mentee or mentor.

B) Staff mentoring schemes operated within individual faculties

In addition to the specific schemes detailed below, anecdotal evidence suggests that a number of informal mentoring/buddying schemes are currently run within individual departments across the organisation.

i. GROW- Admin Focus and Technical Focus

a) Background

The faculties of Engineering and Science previously ran Technical Focus, a twelve month mentoring scheme for technical staff.

The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health previously ran Grow, a twelve month mentoring scheme for support staff (administrative, clerical and technical).

The schemes were amalgamated in 2012, Grow is now run in two strands - Admin Focus and Technical Focus- across the faculties of Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry and Health and Science. The 2013 programme was launched in October 2012.

b) Scope

All faculty Professional Services staff across the three faculties are eligible to apply to participate in the scheme.

c) Participant Numbers

25 mentees were matched with a mentor for the 2012 programme.

d) Further Information/Contact Details

www.shef.ac.uk/faculty/medicine-dentistry-health/traininganddevelopment/mentorscheme

ii. Clinical Academic Mentoring Programme

a) Background

The scheme was launched in 2012 to meet the specific career development needs of clinical trainees. It links trainees with mentors who are Clinical Academics themselves  and who can help trainees with their research plans and help them balance the competing aspects of their lives and careers.

b) Scope

The scheme is available to Clinical Academic trainees. Mentors are Clinical Academics.

c) Particpant Numbers

15 mentees and 9 mentors are currently participating in the scheme.

d) Contact Details

Lynsey Grieveson, l.grieveson@shef.ac.uk

iii. Mentoring for Research Staff

a) Background

Originating in the Think Ahead programme in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, the six-month scheme was recently launched to provide mentoring to research staff across all faculties, with two intakes per year. It is being implemented on a phased basis. The scheme aims to give research staff professional guidance to help support them through all stages of their career at the University of Sheffield, and into their next position.

b) Scope

The scheme is currently available to research staff within the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Science and Engineering. Mentors are members of academic staff from departments external to the mentee.

c) Particpant Numbers

d) Further Information/Contact Details

Kay Guccione, k.guccione@shef.ac.uk

www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr-support/rsd/mentoring
www.shef.ac.uk/faculty/medicine-dentistry-health/thinkahead/mentoring

iv. Mentoring within the Faculty of Engineering

a) Background

The Faculty of Engineering recently launched a Women in Engineering initiative, which aims to redress the gender imbalance of the discipline and ensure that brilliant women want to work and study at Sheffield. As part of this initiative a 'Developing Leaders: Women in Science and Engineering' programme was established which planned to create an early to mid-level female mentoring scheme.

b) Scope

The scheme was publicised to female post-doctoral researchers and lecturers across the faculty. Following consultation with staff it was agreed that rather than setting up a Faculty-specific scheme, the programme would instead aim to raise awareness within the Faculty of existing University schemes and provide training for potential mentors and mentees.

c) Particpant Numbers

N/A as staff were encouraged to join exisiting University mentoring schemes.

d) Further Information

www.shef.ac.uk/faculty/engineering/wie

C) Student Mentoring Schemes

i. Sheffield Mentoring

a) Background

The scheme has been in place for 12 years, and offers all new students the opportunity to be mentored by an existing student. The scheme may be as short as 4 weeks, or continue for several months, and is mentee led.

b) Scope

All new undergraduate students (with the exception of students within Medicine and Dentistry as they operate their own mentoring schemes) are eligible to participate in the scheme once they have received a confirmation their offer.   All exisiting students are eligible to apply to participate as a mentor.

c) Particpant Numbers

A total of c.500 pairs take part in the scheme each year.

Further Information/Contact Details

Kathryn Axon, k.axon@shef.ac.uk
www.shef.ac.uk/ssid/mentoring

ii. Alumni eMentoring Schemes

a) Background

This new scheme matches current students considering a career options with University alumni. The mentoring relationship is largely carried out online, for a 6 week period, although sets can meet if they wish, and continue beyond 6 weeks if they want to. It involves a minimum 10 hours commitment, and students are required to undertake project work.

b) Scope

All current students are eligible to participate in the scheme. All alumni are eligible to apply to participate as a mentor.

c) Participant Numbers

110 alumni have volunteered to participate in the scheme. The pilot was for 8 sets. The intention is that 50 sets will run per term.

d) Further Information/Contact Details

Joy Harrison-Roycroft, Careers Service
www.shef.ac.uk/careers/employers/raising/mentoring
www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/worktypes/careermentoring

This scheme is currently being developed by Kay Guccione

A database of around 200 researchers (generally alumni) who have successfully left the academic sphere and entered into alternative careers is being maintained and grown. These contacts have previously been available for one-to-one consultation by phone or email to provide an insider opinion of their field of work. Network members have also been used as invited speakers for Alternative/Industrial/ Pharmaceutical Careers Expos, or for the Coffee & Careers programme. A formal eMentoring programme is under development that will maximise engagement of these alumni members. As a first option, full in person training will be offered, where that cannot be taken up, an online and handbook version will be presented following a telephone call with Kay Guccione. PGRs (and ECRs) will also recieve a briefing and guidance on having a mentor external to the University.