The Inaugural Academic Mentoring Program 2010
In 2010, 26 academic staff (mentors and mentees) participated in the inaugural Mentoring Program. In addition 19 Research lecturers participated in a mentoring program as an aspect of their first year at Western Sydney University
Key outcomes for Mentors and Mentees in the 2010 pilot program included:
- gaining clarity around academic career paths
- having a valuable alternate 'outside' perspective to standard internal academic supervision
- opportunities for professional reflection
- having a resource to air ideas and seek advice
- feeling valued as an employee
- developing strategies for improvement of teaching and learning quality
- gaining insights into how the University works
- re-focussing on research career
- engaging in conversations about creative practice-led research.
Some comments from participants about the Mentoring Program:
Being selected to take part in this program has made me feel valued as an employee of the University and that the University is interested in my longer term development
Commitment to mentoring recognises the challenges in academia and the gap that exists for formal mentoring; the more effective use of institutional cultural capital; the potential for across-school research-based on relationships that emerge from the program; and gives a greater sense of a community
An opportunity to have rich conversations about creative practice-led research. This was inspiring and laid the foundations for ongoing relationships and emerging possibilities
I was able to draw upon my mentor's experience and to develop strategies for the improvement of teaching and learning quality in the College
This is a really wonderful program and the workshops provided a good overall picture of the program, good advice about roles and worthwhile tools and templates for use in the mentoring
The program provided an ongoing professional relationship – a valuable alternate 'outside' perspective to standard internal academic or higher research supervision. Without mentoring, professional reflection from such a perspective may never have been found or valued
I was able to concentrate my focus on my future role(s). It has provided an extraordinary resource to air ideas and seek advice in a confidential environment. Importantly, it has provided me with a new and valued friend and colleague. Lastly, being selected to take part in this program has made me feel valued as an employee of the university and that the university is interested in my longer term development.
2010 Academic Mentoring Program Participants
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