ARMA Mentoring Programme
Our Mentoring Programme has been created to help members further develop their knowledge and skills as research management professionals. We facilitate one-to-one relationships that allow more experienced members to share their knowledge, skills and experience with colleagues who are new to research management and administration or perhaps require support in a specific field or discipline.
Mentoring provides an opportunity to ask questions, share new ideas and develop knowledge and understanding in a dedicated, supportive environment. A mentoring relationship is based upon encouragement, constructive criticism, openness, mutual trust, respect and a willingness to share and learn and almost any aspect of professional practice can be mentored.
Members who benefit from our Programme testify that they find it to be an enjoyable, rewarding and ultimately valuable experience. Mentors directly support colleagues in developing their skills and knowledge, whilst benefiting from fresh insights into their profession. Equally our mentees benefit from the wealth of experience our mentors bring to the Programme, helping them to build their knowledge and experience and to develop their career paths.
Members who are interested in learning more about the Mentoring Programme, either as a mentor or a mentee, should contact Emma Southern, our Membership & Communications Coordinator.
Applications to join the Programme can be made by completing a Mentoring Form.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is a one-to-one relationship between a more skilled and experienced person and one less skilled/experienced. It gives them a framework in which to share their knowledge, skills and experiences, and to grow and develop in the process. A mentoring relationship is based upon encouragement, constructive comments, openness, mutual trust, respect and a willingness to learn and share. Almost any aspect of professional practice can be mentored!
Why find a mentor?
So you can enjoy and benefit from a professional relationship with an experienced research manager from your sector or a different sector. Importantly, you will have the opportunity to draw on the experience and guidance of someone outside your own workplace, within the friendly and supportive ARMA family.
Who will be the mentors?
Experienced research managers and administrators from a range of sectors. Numbering about 1800, the membership of ARMA is both broad and deep, ranging from university departments to NHS managers to funders, and from first-level supervisors to senior management. From this diverse group, there is certain to be a mentor who can assist you to develop your career to the next level.
How does it work?
Applications can be made via the ARMA website. A sub-group of the ARMA Board will review the applications and match mentor-mentee pairs. These pairs will be put in contact with each other to explore the mentee's needs and if mutually agreeable, to enter into a mentoring arrangement. Mentor-mentee pairs will be provided with guidelines to assist them plan and implement their programme. They will meet and/or communicate in various different ways, according to their preferences and needs.
Does it cost anything?
Only a little of your time and a lot of your enthusiasm and a desire to benefit from the relationship. To participate, mentors and mentees will need the support of their workplace managers. ARMA may provide some monetary assistance, depending on circumstances, details of which will be communicated once pairs are formed.
Why be a mentor?
Gain the satisfaction of helping to develop the career of another ARMA member and enjoy and benefit from new perspectives on your own work as an R&D Manager. Help make research management and administration a true profession.
How do I get involved?
The mentoring programme runs on an annual cycle; pairs will be matched and will then work together for between 6-9 months, when the annual review of the pairs' progress and the scheme as a whole takes place.
What if pairs match themselves, outside the annual cycle?
Sometimes two members of ARMA decide they want to create a mentoring relationship without needing to be matched by ARMA, but they want the partnership to be formally recorded. Such pairs are welcome to tell us about their partnership - please email Emma Southern in the first instance.
