What is a mentoring circle?
A mentoring circle is a small group of mentees facilitated by a more experienced mentor. Circles support each other with common workplace and career-related challenges using a mix of coaching and mentoring techniques. Mentoring circles aim to support career progression and create a community of mentors and mentees. They are open to both research and research-enabling / research professional staff.
Please note that LURA mentoring circles are separate from other Loughborough mentoring schemes, including the Organisational Development mentoring scheme, Young Academy mentoring, and school-based mentoring schemes.
Who can be a mentor or mentee?
Mentors should feel established in their career and able to guide others. Mentors do not need to have mentoring or coaching experience, as support and training will be provided to help you fill this role. The main thing that mentors need to have is experience and a willingness to share with others.
Mentees should be early or mid-career staff from either the Specialist and Supporting Academic Research (SSAR) job group, or a research professional / research-enabling role.
What are the benefits?
- Cultivate rewarding, mutually beneficial relationships with other mentees and mentors.
- Receive training on coaching and mentoring approaches, building your capacity to support and develop others.
- A non-judgmental space to work through specific career and workplace challenges under the guidance of an experienced member of staff.
- Contribute to Loughborough through a cross-University initiative, supporting your GLOW conversations.
- Enhanced awareness of challenges and opportunities faced across the research ecosystem.
Next steps
If you are interested in being part of a mentoring circle, please visit the Mentoring Circles SharePoint page to find out more, and complete your expression of interest by 7 August.
Don’t forget to check out other LURA opportunities too, including the Research Futures programme (expressions of interest open until 8 July) and Career Mobility Funding (apply by 31 July).