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Call for Applications to the Mentoring Programme
The deadline for the 2023 call has passed (15 November).
The Global Young Academy’s At-Risk Scholars Initiative (ARSI) aims to contribute to at-risk scholar re-integration into a scholarly work environment and support the development of research skills and connections relevant to their host countries’ academic environments.
About the ARSI Mentoring Programme
The Global Young Academy (GYA) is an academy of 200 early- to mid-career researchers from around the world that aims to elevate the voice of young scientists in evidence-informed and inclusive global, regional and national decision making.
Through the ARSI Mentoring Programme, GYA Members and Alumni serve as peer mentors to at-risk scholars adapting in a new academic environment. Mentorship entails at least one year commitment by mentors to e-mail and online call communication; providing advice and access to their networks for career, education, and professional development, as appropriate. If applicable, mentors support mentees in developing a GYA or National Young Academy application.
Expectations and Confidentiality
Mentors and mentees are advised to speak openly about expectations early on. Mentoring is a process for the informal transmission of knowledge, social capital, and the psychosocial support perceived by the recipient as relevant to work, career, or professional development. Mentors are not counsellors, sponsors, managers of personal issues, medical or mental health personnel, employers or legal advisors.
Developing trust between mentors and mentees is one of the key goals of our effort. In this regard, our aim is not only to ensure that we demonstrate cultural sensitivity and understanding, but also to treat the information from the mentees with utmost respect and discretion. Mentors should assume that all information provided to them by the mentee is privileged and unless otherwise noted, should not be shared with other mentors or mentees, other than what the mentee himself/ herself has agreed to provide to the network.
Potential opportunities and outcomes of the mentoring programme
- Help make connections with the academic community where the mentee is currently living
- Share articles, opportunities, and other resources that may be of interest to the mentee
- Career advice
- Discuss and identify career goals and job search platforms and strategies
- Help review and revise cover letters and CVs, convert CVs into resume format for non-academic job
- applications, review LinkedIn profile, professional website, and/or other professional resources
- Support with publishing strategies
- Research advice
- Provide support for initiating grants
- Advise on how to establish an independent research lab
- Social capital
- Assist with networking or networking advice
- Support building relationships with host institutions and senior colleagues; emphasis on the importance of network-building
- Work/life balance or special needs of at-risk scholars
- Help establish contact with other existing support structures
- Collaborative projects (as appropriate)
- Co-author an article together or co-produce something (e.g., blog, video, other media project)
- Co-organize an academic conference or event with your mentee. With online meetings, the hurdles are lower and funding is often not needed or minimal. This can be a positive experience, lending visibility, credibility and confidence to mentees in the host country.
Eligibility Criteria for Application to be matched with a GYA mentor
- PhD or equivalent;
- Prior to displacement, applicants must have been not more than 10 years out of their PhD or equivalent (with consideration given for career interruptions);
- Language requirement: The ability to communicate in English is necessary to participate in the programme
- Participant (fellow or scholarship holder) or past participant with one of GYA’s partner organisations:
IIE Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF)
Scholars at Risk (SAR)
Council for At-Risk Academics (cara)
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Philipp Schwartz Initiative
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
If you have any questions, please contact at the GYA Office.