In this work, we explore the crucial role of mentorship for research management professionals and present findings from a survey to be conducted among the participants of the inaugural EARMA Mentoring Scheme.
Mentorship drives professional development and organizational success through dynamic exchanges and developmental conversations. It involves sharing skills, experiences, and expertise, as well as providing guidance and support between experienced and less experienced individuals. This process fosters career advancement, skill acquisition, and personal growth. Effective mentorship is a continuous, reciprocal relationship where mentors provide tailored advice, encouragement, and practical insights that align with the mentee’s professional journey. This dialogue helps mentees navigate their current roles and prepares them for future challenges and opportunities, promoting a culture of perpetual learning and innovation within the organization. A successful mentoring relationship relies on respect, clear goals, and commitment, with mentors adapting their role to the mentee’s career stage.
The impact of mentorship is well recognized, especially in the corporate world where it is more established. Mentorship in academia is relatively new and has traditionally focused on research staff. Recently, efforts have been made to extend mentorship to non-research staff in the research environment. Nevertheless, mentorship in research management is hindered by the absence of a mentoring culture, limited exposure to professionals, and time constraints. Support from networks like EARMA is essential to overcome these barriers. The pace of implementation varies widely depending on the work culture of each country. The role and impact of mentorship programs embedded in research organizations and professional networks like EARMA are essential. We will focus on the impact of EARMA and Uni.lu mentorship programs using qualitative (testimonies) and quantitative (survey-based) data. This work highlights the importance and relevance of these initiatives while providing insights and lessons learned to help build future programs.
