FAQS for Mentors
How does the program work?
Our flexible career mentoring program gives you the opportunity to mentor a UQ Faculty of Science student to help them enhance their employability and guide them to navigate the transition from study to the workplace.The program empowers students to review mentor profiles and carefully select a mentor based on their goals or support needs. Therefore, it is important that you complete your mentor profile in the application as comprehensively as possible and clearly state what guidance and support you can offer.
Students are responsible for making initial contact with you via the Mentoring App. Once you have accepted their request, the student will then contact you to set up the introductory meeting.
We expect students and mentors to work together to build a positive, productive relationship and achieve mutually agreed goals and outcomes. As part of the program, you will connect with your mentee in a series of one-on-one meetings. It is the responsibility of the student to organise these meetings with you.
At your first introductory meeting, you will collaborate with your mentee to:
1.Identify the four conversation topics relating to your mentee's employability and career or personal development that you will discuss in your meetings and interactions throughout the program.
2. Discuss how you plan to work together to achieve the mutually agreed outcomes documented in your mentoring agreement. This will include
- deciding how you want to meet
- preferred method(s) of communicating
- the frequency of your meetings
- the duration of your mentoring relationship during the program
- how you plan to stay in connected once your mentoring relationship or the program has ended.
Our program works a little differently to other mentoring programs you may have been involved in either at UQ or through your organisation / other professional networks. To help you understand how the Science Connect Career Mentoring program works and the expectations we have of mentors, we encourage you to read your mentor guidebook before your first mentee meeting. You’ll also have access to a variety of resources in the mentoring app to help support your relationship with your mentee, make the most of your role as a mentor and assist you in your personal development. All these resources will become available to you closer to the commencement of the program.
When will the program be running?
The program will kick off with the program launch on Tuesday 12 April 2022, and run until July 2022. If you are interested in joining the program as a mentor for a future intake, please email sci.advancement@uq.edu.auWhat is the time commitment involved?
As part of the program, you will connect with your mentee in a series of one-on-one meetings to have conversations relating to their employability, career, and personal development. It is the responsibility of the student to organise these meetings with you.To make the most out of an ongoing mentoring relationship, we recommend having around 3 meetings over the course of the program, and if you both agree, continue connecting with each other and building your mentoring relationship well beyond the program's conclusion. You never know what possibilities and opportunities these relationships may bring in the near or distant future. However, we recognise that every relationship is different, and the duration of your mentoring relationship will depend on the goals and outcomes your mentee is seeking your support with.
In addition to your mentoring sessions, we will be organising a virtual mentor induction before the program begins as well as a virtual program launch event where you will have the opportunity to connect with students and other mentors participating in the program.
We will also be organising a casual, mid program check-in session for mentors and mentees that will be conducted online. The session is about an hour in duration, and is an opportunity for you and your mentee to reflect on your mentoring relationship to date and share your learnings and experiences with other program participants in a relaxed, supportive environment.
If you would like to join the program as a mentor, please email the Science Connect Program Coordinator.
Am I eligible to be a mentor?
To be eligible to participate in the program, you must be able to share your experiences around your education and/or career in the sciences to help students- embark on the transition from study to the workforce
- work towards their short term goals or longer-term career aspirations
- enhance aspect/s of their employability.
- are genuinely passionate about helping others learn, develop and grow
- can listen and provide honest, constructive feedback without judgment
- are reliable, curious, and great communicators.
What are my responsibilities as a mentor?
As a mentor in the program, you are expected to:
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complete your mentor profile as comprehensively as possible
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read your mentor handbook to understand how the program works and the expectations of mentors
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take advantage of the learning resources available to support and build the relationship with your mentee/s
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be reliable - respond to mentoring requests in a timely manner, stick to agreed commitments (as much as possible) - if you need to reschedule please give your mentee as much notice as possible
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collaborate with your mentee to define how you both work together to achieve mutually agreed goals and outcomes – including (but not limited to): frequency and number of meetings, preferred method/s of communication, and the duration of the relationship
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maintain regular contact with your mentee in your agreed communication channel/s throughout the duration of the relationship. We recommend that you and your mentee set expectations around timeframes for responding to questions/communications etc
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establish open and honest communication with your mentee
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listen patiently without judgment and give them your undivided attention during meetings.
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respect confidentiality
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be curious, encourage knowledge-sharing and the exchange of ideas
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provide honest and constructive feedback to your mentee
If you choose to mentor more than one student as part of the program, you are expected to work one-on-one with each student to guide them to achieve their specific goal or outcome.
If you would like to join the program as a mentor, please email the Science Connect Program Coordinator.
How am I expected to communicate with my mentee?
In your expression of interest form, you can nominate how you prefer to conduct your one-on-one meetings with your mentee. Your preferences will be displayed on your profile and this will help students to find a mentor that uses their preferred method of conducting meetings.
Essentially, it’s up to you and your mentee to decide how you will communicate and meet throughout the program, and to set expectations around responding to each other’s questions, meeting requests, knowledge sharing etcCan I mentor more than one student?
If you choose to mentor more than one student as part of the program, you are expected to work one-on-one with each student to guide them to achieve their specific goal or outcome - this is not a group mentoring program.
Mentors can choose to mentor up to 3 students during the program.
Who are the students in this program?
Science Connect is open to all Faculty of Science undergraduate students (including dual degree and honours students) and postgraduate students. Upon their acceptance into the program students will receive full training and support to empower them with the information, tools, and resources needed to understand and enhance their own employability, set meaningful goals or outcomes, make informed decisions, build a positive relationship with a mentor as well as how to apply relevant learnings gained into practice.