MENTORING FNP – a pilot programme

The objective of the programme is to allow young scholars working in Poland to establish contact and build mentoring relationships with their more experienced colleagues (mentors). The relationships in question will support young researchers in making decisions regarding their further professional development. The programme will also help the mentees acquire and improve skills which facilitate working in the research environment, including R&D. Finally, FNP wishes to promote the idea of knowledge sharing and develop the mentors’ and the mentees’ interpersonal skills.

The pilot edition of the MENTORING FNP programme will select up to 15 mentoring pairs, whose cooperation will involve 4 to 10 meetings during 9 to 12 months.

Laureates of the FNP programmes are welcome as mentors. The mentor does not have to be an active researcher; the person may have another type of experience (i.e., in business, commercialisation, etc.).

The mentee must meet two requirements:

• they have obtained the START scholarship within two years of applying for the programme; and
• they conduct research work in Poland or are a doctoral student in Poland.

FNP offers preliminary training for both mentors and mentees. The training will cover skills which are useful in a mentoring relation. FNP will also provide support by means of an external expert, who will supervise the mentoring processes as needed.

Currently, the recruitment of mentors for the pilot edition is in progress. The recruitment of mentees will begin once the mentor selection procedure is finished.

The programme partner is the FNP Scholarship Recipients Club which participates in consultations on the objectives of the programme, its promotion, the recruitment of mentors and mentees, as well as the analysis of results.

More information