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Mentoring-JOUR FIXE – University mentoring workshops for senior staff

Summary

Workshops for senior staff members of University of Graz who intend to create gender and diversity sensitive mentoring relationships with junior researchers.

Target groups

managerial staff /

Implementing organization

Graz University - Coordination Centre for Gender Studies and Equal Opportunities /

Contact

Dr. Barbara Hey,  barbara.hey@uni-graz.at

Implemented/introduced

Implemented at the University of Graz since 2014, once or twice/year

Relation to gender equality targets

Plan for the Advancement of Women Section 37 Mentoring

(1) Mentoring, i.e. conveying technical, social and organizational skills, guidance and support to employees in junior positions, is an important aspect of career advancement. In the introductory phase for new employees, their immediate superiors are obliged to act as mentors. Other university employees with expertise in the relevant field may also be appointed as mentors by these superiors. […]

(2) Activities as a mentor are regarded as an important contribution towards fulfilling the duties arising from the employment relationship and are counted as working time. When allocating duties, superiors must take special account of any additional work load arising from these tasks.

(3) The Rectorate shall set up a mentoring program for women in accordance with the budget.

The objective(s) of the tool

Strengthening leadership skills. Developing relationships and communication skills in a targeted manner while taking into account the diverse talents of employees. Transforming mentoring relationships into success: target agreements, performance discussions, question techniques. Giving due consideration to diversity and gender. Transferring the results into various leadership contexts by sharing knowledge and via insights gained from the manifold mentoring practices present at universities.

Description of the tool

Senior staff at the University of Graz are involved in a variety of mentoring relationships, guiding as well as supervising junior researchers, doctoral and master theses and employees in tenure-track positions. We offer mentoring methods and tools for everyday challenges faced by university senior staff in the promotion of junior researchers.

The Mentoring-JOUR FIXE is an open forum which took place twice per semester in the beginning, it is now organized once per semester. Each jour fixe has a thematic focus, which is presented in a short introduction. Using case studies, practical implications are illustrated. Individual questions and current topics introduced by the participants can be worked on. At the end of each meeting, an open exchange of experiences takes place.

The two parts last two hours each and can be attended together or separately.

How the tool works, practical experience

On average seven people participate per workshop; the genders are represented almost equally. In this context, we also address special target groups, such as members of the staff development advisory board, for whom we offer specials.

Impact analyses have not yet been conducted. For continuing education measures such as these, it is difficult to determine direct or long-term effects with regard to strategic goals or overarching equality Goals.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to the trainer, Dr. Karin Grasenick

Attachments

For further details see the website (in German only)

Example of an invitation (in German only)