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Description
To discuss:
- Mentorship program 2016-2018 - debriefing;
- Mentorship program - student application form;
- Mentorship program 2019-2021;
- AOB
Present:
Palesa, Christine, Yahya, Dave, David, Dario, Steve, Ulrich, Luca, Eilam, Salvador and Ketevi.
Palesa presented the mentorship program, and we discussed around the various points raised and feedback from the participants.
1) The ASP mentorship program:
a. It is a lightweight and coordinated network of mentorship to selected ASP students at the PhD level;
b. It is to supplement the academic advisor of the student, not to replaced it;
c. Feedback from current mentors suggests that the mentorship does not draw much of the mentor’s time and resources;
d. Previous ASP lecturers can be mentors. However, we will also consider mentors that were not lecturers at ASP. What is important is that the mentor should be aware of the reality, difficulties and challenges that may be particular to certain regions of Africa. For example, difficulties in having reliable internet connectivity or in accessing materials for good and informed research work, etc. We believe that having such awareness, the mentorship will be more productive and enriching, not just to the mentee but also for the mentor;
e. Direct communications / interactions with the mentee’s academic advisor is not required. However, if major decisions are considered, e.g. sponsoring the mentee’s travel for research or conference, the advisor should be kept in the loop and the decision making;
f. The role of the mentor may be elevated to that of an academic advisor if the mentee starts formally to do a PhD under the mentor;
g. The mentor should periodically and actively engage the mentee, especially if they have not heard from the mentee;
h. Desirable to have mentor / mentee in the same or related field. However, this is not a requirement. A mentor, in a different field from that of the mentee, can still be helpful to connect the mentee to the right source of information or solutions. In some cases, a mentor may not be able to help but just being available and accessible to the mentee has proved to be a great source of encouragement to the students.
2) The Mentees
a. We reviewed the current list of mentees. Some of them have already obtained the PhD or will be graduating in 2019: these will roll out of the mentorship program;
b. The ones that are still actively pursuing the PhD will continue to be mentored;
c. The application is opened until January 31 to accept new mentees. The details of the applications are on Indico, here: https://indico.cern.ch/event/749280/
d. In February, when the application period is over: i) we will meet with the mentees and brief them; ii) we will define the mentor / mentee pairings and inform the pairs. After that, the mentors or the mentees may initiate contacts.
3) Mentor / Mentee meetings
a. The mentor / mentee interactions are done online, via Skype or other means.
b. Mentor / mentee in-person meeting is desirable. The suggestion is the following: during the ASP conference, the mentees will be invited to give talks on their PhD research projects. We will also invite the mentors (most of them should be lecturers, thus expected to be present at the school). In-person mentor / mentee meetings would happen during the ASP conference. We are currently seeking funding for this, at least to be able to cover the mentee’s travels. But a mentor may have his / her own funding to invite mentee at his / her institute: this is encouraged if possible.
4) Mentee evaluations
a. Midway through the current cycle of mentorship, e.g. around March 2020, we may ask the mentors to fill out a quick and short evaluation of their mentees.
b. This is to help us gauge progress and impact, and to get feedback for improvement.
There are minutes attached to this event.
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