TU/e wants to better inform its staff members, not just the ones who have recently started working for the university, but also those who (wish to) take a step towards a new position. Several initiatives are being set up to accomplish this; the mentorship is one of them.

The idea is that staff members have the opportunity to spar with more experienced employees about certain issues. Not necessarily about practical matters, but about how you can realize certain things at our university. Tineke van den Bosch, policy advisor at Personnel and Organization (DPO), explains: “It’s about questions such as ‘how can I further expand my network?’ or ‘which path should I choose to accomplish a certain goal?’.”

A mentor can be of use as well to staff members who have been working at TU/e for some time already. “In that case, it’s mostly about personal development. They can have questions such as ‘how do I maintain a balance between my work and my private life?’ and ‘how should I go about getting a different position at TU/e?’.”

The university started a similar initiative some time ago - initiated by the WISE-Network in collaboration with DPO - for scientific personnel, more specifically for assistant professors. But other scientists can sign up as well.

Match

The policy advisor expects that realizing a match between the support staff will prove to be a bit more difficult than realizing a match between scientific personnel. “We match scientists with other, more experienced scientists from a different department. The functions among the support staff are much more diffuse as far as that is concerned.”

Approximately forty staff members signed up as mentor and followed a mentorship training recently. Most of them were suggested by directors of the services or departments. Their qualifications should include a broad experience in their position, an awareness of everything that goes on at TU/e, the ability to listen and to ask in-depth questions, and a willingness to share their knowledge and experience.

DPO matches these mentors with staff members who have certain questions and indicated that they would like a mentor. A mentorship is entered into for a period of one year, during which six to eight meetings will take place between mentor and mentee. The service intends to evaluate the mentorships in a year’s time.

Have you been working at TU/e for only a short period of time, are you newly appointed, or aren’t you sure how you should tackle the issues you’re sometimes confronted with in your current position? Sign up online.