Royal Society of Edinburgh Mentoring Scheme 2023/24

The RSE Mentoring Scheme supports talented social science PhD students to develop their potential and explore different area of impact for their research. The RSE works with the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) to match ESRC funded PhD researchers with leading RSE fellows.

We invite RSE Fellows to complete this Expression of Interest Form by Friday 17 November.

Aims and Objectives

Mentoring is a learning relationship that includes elements of listening, advising, planning, challenge, support and sharing experience. In this programme, mentoring can be understood as: “A confidential active learning process whereby an experienced, empathic person (the mentor) facilitates the development of another individual (the mentee).”

What are the aims of this scheme? 

Please see our guidance for full information. Overarching aims of the RSE Mentoring Programme

• To enable PhD students to understand how different disciplines operate, and in turn the interdisciplinary appeal of their research;
• To increase PhD students’ understanding of research impact and career pathways;
• To define a mentoring skill set and build a culture of collaborative, supportive practice between RSE Fellows and the next generation of research leaders;
• It should be noted that each mentee will have the opportunity to set and work towards their own objectives for mentoring.

The general anticipated benefits to mentors are:

1. Management and leadership development: self-awareness, active listening, challenging, motivating others, building commitment to action, coaching;
2. Appreciation of the skills and experiences that social science PhD researchers can bring to different disciplines;
3. Satisfaction of helping early career researchers who are exploring their career and/or research opportunities.

Timeline