Information on mentoring resources available, the Mentoring Circles programme, local support and external programmes related to your research area Mentoring Resources The Researcher Development team worked with Dr Steve Hutchison (co-author of Coaching and Mentoring for Academic Development) to create a suite of mentoring resources for research and academic staff. The aim of these resources is to support individuals to consider mentoring as a career development opportunity, from both the mentor and mentee perspective.They explore what mentoring is and what it is not, the role of the mentee in finding and building mentoring relationships and the skills required in the role of the mentor. They also include resources for further reading and support. An introduction and three standalone resources have been created; however, these are also complementary to each other. There are resources specifically for mentees and others for mentors, but we recommend looking at all the resources, regardless of the intended role, to become familiar with both roles in a mentoring partnership. The resources are short in length and can be downloaded. Mentoring - What it is, and what it is not This first resource provides an overview of the structure and content of the mentoring resources and information on what mentoring is and what it involves for both parties. Mentoring - what it is, and what it is not Mentoring - Being a Mentee The second resource focuses on finding a Mentor and how to get the best out of a mentoring partnership, with links to further reading. Mentoring - Being a Mentee Mentoring - Being a Mentor The third resource supports anyone interested in being a Mentor, and includes links to further reading. Mentoring - Being a Mentor Feedback: We would value your feedback on these resources, whether you have found them useful and if they have supported a mentoring partnership. If you have any comments, please email: researcher.development@ed.ac.uk Mentoring Schemes Mentoring Circles - PostdocsMentoring Circles - Postdocs is a group mentoring programme in which a small group of postdocs in the University of Edinburgh are provided a mentor. They will allow a postdoc to receive mentoring support alongside the opportunity to meet other postdocs with similar interests, challenges, concerns and who may be at the same stage of their career, therefore finding solutions to problems whilst building connections.Mentoring Circles - Postdocs Local SchemesSeveral Schools across the University of Edinburgh run local level mentoring programmes. These are smaller programmes, aimed at researchers in their area.If you don’t have a local mentoring scheme, consider setting one up. If you are interested in knowing more about what this would entail, the challenges, successes and systems in place, please read our new setting up a local mentoring scheme resource:Setting up a local researcher mentoring scheme 1:1 SupportThere are also other ways to get 1:1 Support - we list various opportunities on the following page:Other 1:1 support opportunities Further suggestionsIf you know of any other relevant schemes, not listed above, please let us know: researcher.development@ed.ac.uk This article was published on Thursday 2 July 2026
