University of St Andrews

The Elizabeth Garrett mentoring programme

The Elizabeth Garrett mentoring programme at the University of St Andrews supports women in senior academic roles or those aspiring to leadership positions. It aims to develop leadership capabilities and address gender inequality in academia.

Honouring Elizabeth Garrett

Named after Elizabeth Garrett, the first woman to matriculate at St Andrews in 1862, this programme celebrates her legacy. Despite being barred from medical classes, Garrett became the first woman physician in Britain, co-founded the first hospital staffed by women, and served as Dean of the London School of Medicine for Women.

Programme goals

• Increase representation of women in senior academic roles.
• Support women in achieving their full potential.
• Remove obstacles for women of ability.

Sponsored by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sally Mapstone, this programme is a tribute to Garrett’s pioneering spirit and dedication to women’s advancement in academia.

Contents

• Launch event 2025-2025.
• Mentor and mentee roles.
• Eligibility and programme size.
• Duration and time commitments.
• Selection and matching.
• The experience of being mentored (YouTube video).
• Briefing and support.

Launch event 2024-2025

Join us for the official 2024/25 cycle launch event on Thursday, 14 November 2024, 1.00pm (Parliament Hall). This is a great opportunity to learn about the scheme, ask questions, and hear from past participants.

To register your interest, please email: egmentoring@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Mentor and mentee roles

Mentors: Members of the Principal’s Office, Deans, Heads of School (current and former), Directors of Research and Teaching from larger schools, and professors. Mentors can be male or female.

Mentees: Female academics seeking to prepare for leadership roles, manage current leadership responsibilities, or develop leadership capabilities for other roles.

Eligibility and programme size

Eligibility of mentees: mentee applicants must be women in academic roles who are post-probationary and at the level of Senior Lecturer (or equivalent research grade) or above, including Professors. Eligible staff from all Academic Schools are invited to apply.

Programme size: during the 2024-2025 cycle, the scheme will accommodate 35 partnerships, including any existing partnerships that rollover into the new cycle. Due to this limit, it may not be possible to match all mentee applicants at the point of their initial application to the programme.

Duration and time commitments

Duration: partnerships are supported for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of extending the partnership on a yearly basis. This allows for flexibility and continued development based on the needs and progress of the mentoring relationship.

Time commitment: participants joining the scheme are making a commitment to dedicate time to their mentoring partnership. Typically, we suggest that partnerships have four 90-minute meetings throughout the year, which can be scheduled at mutually convenient times. However, the exact nature and frequency of meetings will be agreed upon by each pair, allowing for adjustments based on their specific needs and circumstances. This flexibility ensures that the mentoring relationship can be tailored to best support the development goals of both the mentor and mentee.

Selection and matching

After the application deadline, a selection panel comprising the Principal, AVP Dean of Arts and Divinity, and AVP Dean of Science will review all mentee applications. The panel aims to select at least one mentee from each school, depending on the number of applicants and their suitability. All applicants will be notified of the outcome via email. The matching process will consider the compatibility of mentors and mentees based on their individual objectives, backgrounds, and any stated preferences. This ensures that each partnership is well-suited to meet the participants’ goals.

The experience of being mentored

Watch a filmed interview with Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE and Professor Cecile Fabre from All Souls College, University of Oxford, discussing the mentoring experience.

Briefing and support

Once mentoring partnerships are confirmed, all participants will attend a mandatory briefing session before their first meeting. This session will provide an overview of the programme, outline expectations, and offer guidance on how to make the most of the mentoring relationship. Participants who have previously attended a similar briefing as part of other schemes are not required to attend again.

Additionally, a scheme handbook will be available to all participants. Ongoing support will be available from the Organisational and Staff Development Services (OSDS) and AVP Diversity teams to address any questions or concerns that may arise. Furthermore, all participants will be invited to optional networking events each semester, hosted by the Principal, to foster a sense of community and facilitate the sharing of experiences and insights.