EARMA officially launched the Mentorship Scheme 2025 during the kick-off event held on February 5, 2025. This scheme aims to support early-career research management professionals by pairing them with experienced mentors, promoting professional growth and excellence within the research management community.
The EARMA Mentorship Scheme is structured to provide a confidential and supportive environment where mentees can engage in regular, informal discussions with their mentors. These interactions focus on topics proposed by the mentees and agreed upon with the mentors, facilitating targeted guidance and knowledge sharing. The scheme emphasises international pairings, encouraging participants to broaden their perspectives and networks across borders.
Johanna Roodt, Head of Engagement, Communications and Events, opened the event. She explained the scheme, introduced the professionals involved in this project, and announced a new feature: for this 2025 scheme, last year’s mentors will be buddies of the current mentors, as Roodt explained. This means that new mentors will rely on other mentors with experience in the scheme, willing to offer advice if necessary.
Furthermore, the meeting was attended by Serena Mancini, Life Sciences Project Manager at CCRI, who participated as a mentor in the 2024 scheme. She provided her input to the new participants and shared her own experience on the spot.
Roodt and Mancini led both groups, mentors and mentees, and created a friendly environment that encouraged them to discuss their backgrounds, experiences, and expectations to see how they align. Thanks to the several icebreaker exercises that both leaders proposed, the pairs of mentors and mentees explored what topics they were interested in, what was essential for them to work together, and how to establish good communication.
One of the best aspects of the EARMA Mentorship Scheme is the flexibility that the participants have throughout the collaboration. They learn about the scheme structure, receive crucial documents, and get acquainted with processes. However, all activities take place in a confidential setting. Indeed, participants receive advice and support when required, but there are no specific rules regarding the methodology, the topics, or the dynamics. This freedom fosters creativity and knowledge-sharing.
The kick-off event was a great opportunity for mentors and mentees to meet their partners for the first time and know each other's expectations for a successful year of collaboration.
During the EARMA Mentorship Scheme 2025, the mentor and the mentee will navigate the pathways of professional growth, establish an international network, and, most importantly, learn from each other. Through this initiative, EARMA aims to strengthen the research management community through professional relationships, building a sustainable, long-term mentoring culture and cultivating excellence.
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