Mentoring

On these pages, you'll find practical information, resources and guidance related to mentoring and the staff mentoring programme.

Sussex has an active central mentoring programme open to all staff. The most common mentoring relationships are between a more experienced person (the mentor) and a less experienced person (the mentee). However, mentoring can also be a developmental relationship between peers.

MentorNet has now been launched to make staff mentoring here at Sussex easier and more meaningful than ever. Designed like a social networking site, MentorNet allows mentors and mentees to create a user profile. Mentees can search for and create meaningful matches with their Mentors - often selected from another School or Division and slightly ahead of the mentee in their career. There are options to allow for identity-based matching, which means that mentees share a specific characteristic with their mentors, as well as lived experiences in a range of areas.

Find out more about mentoring and how it works.

There are also a number of other mentoring schemes at the University including the Library mentoring scheme, early-career mentoring for researchers from the Research Staff Office, Sussex Alumni, as well as academic mentoring in schools (contact Schools directly for more information).

Cross-institution Mentoring

We have a reciprocal relationship with the University of Brighton with regards to mentoring. If you are a prospective mentor or mentee and would like to be matched with someone from Brighton, please specify this on your mentoring registration form and we will look to find you a suitable match.

Community of Practice for Mentors (CoP)

“A community of practice is a group of people who share a concern or passion for something they do, and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.” Wenger-Trayner

What is the Community of Practice for Mentors?

The Community of Practice is open to all staff in an active mentoring relationship or waiting to be matched with a mentee. If you haven’t been before, you are very welcome to attend. The CoP provides mentors with the opportunity to:

Share insights and best practice
Receive co-supervision from peers
Build mentoring capability
Practice and enhance knowledge.

What do existing mentors say about the Community of Practice?

“The training and community of practice has been invaluable in preparing me to become a mentor and continue to reflect on my role in the process.”

“Really good to have specific themes each time”.

“I think the most valuable thing about the community of practice is just the discussions that can come up in the group and sharing experiences.”

What happens at a CoP session?

Sessions begin with a check in around mentoring with peer sharing and advice. There is then a focus on a particular theme related to mentoring, with discussion and practice.

Example Agenda

Introductions and check-ins
Peer sharing – celebrating success, challenge and learning in our practice
Mentoring theme – knowledge share and practice
Check out and session close

The schedule is dynamic and open to change as the Community evolves.

Guiding Principles

Confidentiality – Mentors will be mindful not to share any details which could allow mentees to be identified. Situations discussed will be anonymised and generalised where seeking support or suggestions from peers.
Mutual respect – the Community welcomes experienced and new mentors in an environment of mutual respect, sharing and support.
Encouragement – the intention behind interactions in the Community is to boost confidence, share suggestions useful to other mentors and build practical knowledge for members.
Involvement – the group is as active and as energised as its members. Suggestions for improving or evolving the group are welcomed.

How can I book?

Upcoming sessions are listed on the Organisational Development > Mentoring pages and can be booked through via the Eventbrite links in the feature box. Sessions tend to run around 12-2pm.

Download the slides from previous Community of Practice sessions:

Who can I speak to if I have a question or want to know more?

Contact Sam Bates on s.r.bates@sussex.ac.uk or the Organisational Development team on od@sussex.ac.uk.

Contact us

Organisational Development
Human Resources
od@sussex.ac.uk
T 01273 606755 ext 4806

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Looking for support from the OD team?

If you are a manager or leader and looking for support with learning and development for your team, complete this OD support request form to give details of the situation and expected outcomes, and a member of the OD team will respond within 5 working days.

Organisational Development