Mentoring
What is mentoring?
"Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be."
Eric Parsloe, The Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring
Mentoring is based on a relationship between two people, the mentor and mentee. In the mentoring relationship:
"The mentor is generally more experienced that the mentee and makes use of that experience in a facilitative way to support the development of the mentee. Mentoring is used to assist individuals at specific stages of development or transition and lasts for a sustained but defined period of time. The mentoring relationship provides a developmental opportunity for both parties and can thus be of mutual benefit."
Beels, C and Powell D (1994) Mentoring with Newly-Qualified Teachers – the Practical Guide. CCDU: The University of Leeds.
Pilot mentoring scheme for female Fellows
In 2007 the Geological Society and the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC) ran a pilot mentoring scheme for female Fellows.
The aim of the pilot scheme was to improve the retention of women in geoscience and within the Fellowship. In Higher Education there are fewer female than male geology students and the under-representation of women at entry-level seems to be compounded by female geoscientist leaving the profession mid-career. The age profile of the Fellowship shows that, at age 21-25, women make up 46% of Fellows; at age 31-35, the proportion of women is 27% and at age 51-55, it is just 7%. Women make up just 8% of Chartered Geologists. Mentoring has been shown to successfully support women with a range of issues, including career planning and progression, reducing isolation, networking, work-life balance and the development of new skills.
The 2007 scheme proved to be so successful that the Society’s Professional Committee has decided to run the scheme for a second year and is now looking for around 20-22 new female fellows to join those who are continuing from last year. To apply for participation in the 2008 scheme please complete the application form below and return to Alison Douglas, Fellowship Services Manager, alison.douglas@geolsoc.org.uk by 18th July.
- Download the 2008-9 Application Form (.rtf 64 Kb)
For more information on the UKRC, see their website at www.setwomenresource.org.uk.
The Geological Society runs a mentoring scheme which aims to provide support to Fellows working towards Chartered Geologist or Chartered Scientist. This will continue to be open to all Fellows throughout the duration of the pilot mentoring scheme for women. Fellows at any career stage who are thinking of applying for chartership in the future can apply to the Society for a mentor if they feel that they would benefit from guidance from a current Chartered Geologist/Scientist. The Society will match the Fellow with a mentor based on similar areas of expertise and geographical location. The mentor should be a Chartered Geologist/Scientist who is willing to maintain contact with the Fellow and provide advice and support on aspects of professional development.
If you would like a mentor, or would like to volunteer to be a mentor, please contact the Fellowship office at membership@geolsoc.org.uk or telephone 0207 434 9944.
Chartership mentoring scheme
The Geological Society runs a mentoring scheme which aims to provide support to Fellows working towards Chartered Geologist or Chartered Scientist. This will continue to be open to all Fellows throughout the duration of the pilot mentoring scheme for women. Fellows at any career stage who are thinking of applying for chartership in the future can apply to the Society for a mentor if they feel that they would benefit from guidance from a current Chartered Geologist/Scientist. The Society will match the Fellow with a mentor based on similar areas of expertise and geographical location. The mentor should be a Chartered Geologist/Scientist who is willing to maintain contact with the Fellow and provide advice and support on aspects of professional development.
If you would like a mentor, or would like to volunteer to be a mentor, please contact the Fellowship office at membership@geolsoc.org.uk or telephone 0207 434 9944.