Assistant Professor Development Programme
Mentoring
Mentoring is an important part of your professional and academic development at Trinity. A mentor provides guidance, support and encouragement as you establish your academic career, helping you navigate University processes, develop your career goals, and build confidence in your role.
To request a mentor, please contact staffdev@tcd.ie.
Your mentor will typically be an experienced academic from your Faculty, but outside your immediate discipline or School where possible. This provides an independent and confidential perspective while encouraging broader connections across the University.
Your Mentor Will
- Provide guidance on the expectations of the academic role.
- Share knowledge, experience and insights gained throughout their academic career.
- Support your professional and career development.
- Help you prepare for probation, performance reviews and progression discussions.
- Act as a sounding board for ideas, opportunities and challenges.
- Encourage networking and introduce you to relevant colleagues and professional opportunities where appropriate.
Mentoring Meetings
The mentoring relationship is driven by the mentee. It is recommended that meetings take place regularly throughout the year, with additional meetings scheduled as needed. Typical meetings might include:
- An introductory meeting to establish the mentoring relationship, discuss goals and agree expectations.
- Objective-setting discussions to review research, teaching and engagement plans.
- Career development conversations to reflect on progress, opportunities and future aspirations.
- Preparation for probation and performance reviews, including feedback on documentation and discussion of expectations.
For further information about the University's mentoring programme, please visit the Mentoring pageon the Learning and Organisational Development website.