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Academic Mentoring at UNSW

Academic mentoring

Academic Mentoring at UNSW is an evidence based approach to mentoring that aims to build successful mentoring relationships across the institution.

Mentoring provides opportunities for mutual learning, expansion of networks and other benefits for participants (Ambler, Harvey, & Cahir, 2016; Harvey, Ambler, & Cahir, 2016). Further details of benefits are outlined below.

The initiative is designed so that mentees are empowered to choose their mentors and the type of mentoring relationship they want, whether it is one-on-one or group.

Academic Mentoring Booklet
Academic Mentoring at UNSW

Working in partnership or as a group, mentees and mentors can set goals,
timeframes and parameters for how their relationship will work.
The approach:

  • is goal orientated;
  • encourages various types of mentoring;
  • sets relationship timeframes;
  • identifies key skills for mentees and mentors;
  • provides frameworks, checklists and reflection exercises.

This page contains a suit of resources to assist mentors and mentees on their mentoring journey, using an easy step-by-step process.  It includes both the UNSW Academic Mentoring Guide as well as individual worksheets and handouts.

The Academic Mentoring initiative is evidence based, underpinned by the latest research and scholarship. Developed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) Portfolio, it has close synergies with academic and educational excellence, but can benefit any academic or professional staff wanting to engage in a mentoring relationship. The guide is aimed at both mentors and mentees, while mentors can also access professional development training.

The UNSW HR website includes information about other mentoring schemes at UNSW, such as Career Collaborator, available to staff at the University.

Benefits to mentoring

Mentee

Benefits to mentees include development of their teaching practice and/or research, career advancement, professional support, and increased confidence through guidance and feedback from experienced practitioners. Specifically, a mentoring relationship will support the mentee in both defining and pursuing their goals, expand their perspectives and strengthen self-development plans. A mentoring relationship supports motivation and work satisfaction for both mentees and mentors (Johnson & Ridley, 2004; Long, 1997; Rolfe-Felt, 2002).

Mentor

Mentors benefit from the development of skills (e.g., interpersonal, leadership), acquiring experience which can be used as evidence for promotion/awards applications and increased personal satisfaction and growth. Mentoring relationships make an imperative contribution to the support of new academics, with research studies on mentoring programs in both academia and private organisations showing that mentors gain new perspectives on ideas and issues, increased self-awareness and personal growth through sharing their knowledge with new academics (Johnson & Ridley, 2004; Long, 1997; Rolfe-Felt, 2002).

University

Mentoring programs help to create an environment that fosters personal and professional growth through the sharing of skills, attitudes and behaviours. Mentoring also enhances staff performance, which, in turn, can accelerate processes for the identification, development and retention of talent, and an enriched learning culture amongst staff within the university (Long, 1997).

Mentoring in action

We spoke to A.Prof Simon McIntyre and Dr. Yenni Tim, two UNSW educators who are currently involved in the program as a mentor and mentee. Here are their interesting insights.

Mentoring in Action

Finding a mentor

Academic Mentoring at UNSW is different to other mentoring schemes where mentors and mentees are matched. Instead of being matched, mentees have autonomy and need to be proactive in searching for a mentor. This approach enables flexibility in how mentors and mentees are paired. To find a mentor, follow these steps:

1. Search for a mentor on our website – mentor profiles can be found in the ‘Meet our Mentors’ section. The mentor needs to be a person with established experience and knowledge in the area in which you require guidance or advice.

2. Once you have selected a potential mentor, make initial contact. The recommended approach is email as this avoids any duress on the potential mentor and allows time for a considered decision to be made. Direct email links are listed in each of the mentor profiles.

3. When a positive response is received after initial contact is made, it is recommended that both the mentee and mentor discuss the purpose of the relationship. This establishes a framework for the relationship, and ensures expectations are reasonable.

Refer to the guide and individual templates on this website to support you in beginning and developing a mentoring relationship.

Meet our mentors

Associate Professor Elizabeth Angstmann
Find out more...
Associate Professor Elizabeth Angstmann

Science

Associate Professor Chinthaka Balasooriya
More information
Associate Professor Chinthaka Balasooriya

Medicine

Dr Thomas Britz
More information
Dr Thomas Britz

Science

Professor Richard Buckland
Find out more...
Professor Richard Buckland

Engineering

Professor Terry Cumming
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Professor Terry Cumming

Arts & Social Sciences

Professor Julien Epps
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Professor Julien Epps

Engineering

Professor Elizabeth Fernandez
Find out more...
Professor Elizabeth Fernandez

Arts & Social Sciences

Professor Gigi Foster
Find out more...
Professor Gigi Foster

Business

Dr Karen Gibson
Find out more...
Dr Karen Gibson

Medicine

Associate Professor Ben Golder
Find out more...
Associate Professor Ben Golder

Law

Dr Bruce Harvey
Find out more...
Dr Bruce Harvey

Engineering

Associate Professor Marina Harvey
Find out more...
Associate Professor Marina Harvey

Arts & Social Sciences

Professor Peter Heslin
Find out more...
Professor Peter Heslin

Business

Associate Professor Kerry Humphreys
Find out more...
Associate Professor Kerry Humphreys

Business

Dr Luke Hunter
Find out more...
Dr Luke Hunter

Science

Associate Professor Barbara M. Junghans
Find out more...
Associate Professor Barbara M. Junghans

Science

Dr. Pramod Koshy
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Dr. Pramod Koshy

Science

Dr Rebecca LeBard
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Dr Rebecca LeBard

Science

Dr. May Lim
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Dr. May Lim

Engineering

Dr Benson Lim
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Dr Benson Lim

Built Environment

Dr Kevin Liu
More information
Dr Kevin Liu

Business

Dr Shannan Maisey
More Information
Dr Shannan Maisey

Science

Dr Daniel Mansfield
More information
Dr Daniel Mansfield

Science

Dr Diane Mayorga
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Dr Diane Mayorga

Business

Associate Professor Ian William McArthur
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Associate Professor Ian William McArthur

Art & Design

Associate Professor Simon McIntyre
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Associate Professor Simon McIntyre

Art & Design

Dr Gavin Mount
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Dr Gavin Mount

Humanities & Social Sciences

Professor Paul Munroe
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Professor Paul Munroe

Science

Associate Professor Marina Nehme
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Associate Professor Marina Nehme

Law

Professor Justine Nolan
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Professor Justine Nolan

Law

Professor Nalini Pather
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Professor Nalini Pather

Medicine

Associate Professor Leanne Piggott
Find out more...
Associate Professor Leanne Piggott

Business

Professor Patsie Polly
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Professor Patsie Polly

Medicine

Professor Gangadhara Prusty
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Professor Gangadhara Prusty

Engineering

Dr Jayashri Ravishankar
Find out more...
Dr Jayashri Ravishankar

Engineering

Associate Professor Cathy Sherry
Find out more...
Associate Professor Cathy Sherry

Law

Associate Professor George A. Shinkle
Find out more...
Associate Professor George A. Shinkle

Business

Dr Elena Sitnikova
Find out more...
Dr Elena Sitnikova

Engineering and Information Technology

Dr Scott Sulway
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Dr Scott Sulway

Science

Dr. Rachel Thompson
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Dr. Rachel Thompson

Medicine

Professor Chihiro Kinoshita Thomson
Find out more...
Professor Chihiro Kinoshita Thomson

Arts & Social Sciences

Dr. Inmaculada Tomeo-Reyes, Academic Mentor
Find out more...
Dr. Inmaculada Tomeo-Reyes, Academic Mentor

Engineering

Associate Professor Adrienne Torda
Find out more...
Associate Professor Adrienne Torda

Medicine

Mr Dean Utian
Find out more...
Mr Dean Utian

Built Environment

Professor Gary Velan
Find out more...
Professor Gary Velan

Medicine

Dr Marietjie Venter
Find out more...
Dr Marietjie Venter

Medicine

Dr. Melanie White
Find out more...
Dr. Melanie White

Arts and Social Sciences

Dr Nirmani Wijenayake
Find out more...
Dr Nirmani Wijenayake

Science

Dr Kate Wilson
Find out more...
Dr Kate Wilson

Engineering and Information Technology

Become an academic mentor

To become an academic mentor at UNSW, you will need to satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

  • Peer-reviewed journal article on the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching;
  • Conference paper on Learning and Teaching published in peer-reviewed conference proceedings;
  • Postgraduate Certificate or higher qualification in Learning and Teaching;
  • Editor of a book focusing on Learning and Teaching;
  • Editor, or active member of an editorial board, of a journal focusing on Learning and Teaching;
  • Learning and Teaching related Fellow at a National or International level;
  • Fellowships, e.g. HEA Fellowship (category Fellow or above), HERDSA Fellowship;
  • Awarded a Learning and Teaching Grant or Award (University/ National/ International);
  • Membership of a professional association related to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (please include details of your role);
  • Member of a university Learning and Teaching governance committee or board;
  • Mentoring experience, specifically in the area of Learning and Teaching.

Apply to become an academic mentor

If you meet the above criteria we warmly invite you to become an academic mentor at UNSW. All you need to do is to is complete the online expression of interest.

Resources

The following resources have been developed to support you on your mentoring journey.

Academic Mentoring Guide
 

Individual Templates / Handouts

Mentoring Agreement

Mentoring Checklist

Mentoring Notes

Last Meeting Checklist

Final Reflection


Video Resources


Choosing a Mentor and Expectations of Mentees

Associate Professor Linley Lord of the Maureen Bickley Centre for Women in Leadership, Curtin Graduate School of Business, answers a series of questions on how to choose a mentor and expectations of mentees.

 

Advice to Mentees

Professor Attila Brungs, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Technology Sydney offers advice relating to the question "What advice would you offer mentees on how to progress their career?"

 

Mentoring and Sponsorship

Dr Jennifer de Vries, Gender Strategy and Organisational Development Consultant (www.jendevries.com), presents a useful overview on the differences between academic mentoring and sponsorship (04.30-07.30). 

References

Ambler, T., Harvey, M., & Cahir, J. (2016). University academics’ experiences of learning through mentoring. Australian Educational Researcher, 43, 609–627. doi: 10.1007/s13384-016-0214-7

Harvey, M., Ambler, T., & Cahir, J. (2017). Spectrum Approach to Mentoring: An evidence-based approach to mentoring for academics working in higher education. Teacher Development, 21(1), 160-174. doi: 10.1080/13664530.2016.1210537

Johnson, B., & Ridley, C. (2004). The elements of mentoring. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Long, J. (1997). The dark side of mentoring. Australian Educational Researcher, 24(2), 115-133. doi: 10.1007/BF03219650

Rolfe-Felt, A. (2002). Mentoring Australia: A practical guide. Sydney: Pearson Education Australia.

Contact

For further information contact Dr Anna Rowe, Academic Development Services, PVC, Education.

E: ads@unsw.edu.au

P: +61 (2) 9385 9136

This initiative and its resources are adapted with permission, from the Spectrum Academic Mentoring Guide authored by Cahir, Harvey and Ambler (2017). 

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Page last updated: Monday 14 December 2020