Call for Mentors
After the successful launch ofthe Early Career Group in June 2014 we are pleased to send details of a pilot scheme devised by the group that will be launched in the Autumn of 2014. The Early Career Group are interested in the possibility of developing a mentor scheme that would allow early career dance academics to gain support from experienced colleagues and scholars who work in different institutions across the country.
What is the idea?
The DanceHE Early Career Group felt that as well as having support and guidance from each other, it would also be valuable to network with more experienced academic colleagues. This would provide opportunities for individuals to develop their teaching practice and research in a wider context while engaging with the DanceHE community.
As the current HE climate calls on academics to engage in a broad range of activity, many members of the group felt there were specific aspects of their work they wanted to develop further, but did not always have the time or means to do so. A mentor scheme could provide a framework for early career academics to reflect, build and broaden aspects of their career with the support and guidance of a new critical friend.
In order to initiate the project we would like to hear from experienced academics interested in getting involved and who would be able to offer time to act as a mentor. The aim is to establish mentor/mentee partners during the Autumn 2014 and run a pilot scheme through to the Summer of 2015. In the first instance it may be that the partnerships operate across institutions on a confidential level, although they could also work within institutions. In April 2015 we aim to host a Focus Group to review the pilot project to which all mentors and mentees will be invited. If you are interested in being involved in the future and happy to add your name as a potential mentee it would be useful to hear from you.
Ideally involvement in the scheme will be a rewarding process for both parties, allowing for a series of conversations to take please on a range of ideas, pedagogy and research related themes that are of interest and identified by each partnership. The idea is for the scheme to provide valuable CPD for both colleagues as well as positive networking and personal development.
We would like to hear from experienced academics, or those with a particular skill set they might wish to share. If you are interested please send details including:
- Name
- Institution
- Roles
- Areas of special interest, skills or expertise
- Time available to be involved in the scheme (how many conversation/meetings)
- Thoughts on what you are be able to offer: support over email? support via skype? regular meetings ( potentially 3 a year)? institutional visits (these will be dependent on the particular skills sets being mentored, locations, and mentee/mentor? relationships) ad-hoc support? opportunities to network? able to attend the Focus Group Meeting on the 9th April 2015 and contribute to the review?
- Mentees should be associated with an institution with DanceHE membership or be in the process of seeking membership. Alternative individual memberships are also available: https://dancehe.org.uk/aboutus/become-a-member
Please send expressions of interest or any questions you may have about the scheme to Natalie Garrett Brown, Vice Chair of DanceHE by the 24th October 2014.
Thank you for your continued support of Dance and colleagues working in the discipline.