ChallengeEU Mentoring Programme – Rules
REGULATIONS OF THE MENTORING PROGRAMME OF THE ChallengeEU UNIVERSITIES These Regulations define the principles, conditions, and rules of participation in the ChallengeEU Mentoring Programme, implemented as part of the ChallengeEU Alliance cooperation framework. The Programme is coordinated by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (UWM) within Work Package 5, “Openness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion”. DefinitionsUnless the content of the Regulations of the Mentoring Programme of the ChallengeEU universities (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Regulations’) states otherwise, the following terms shall have the meaning assigned to them below: §1 The Programme assumes cooperation and the transfer of possessed knowledge and professional experience by professionally active persons (Mentors) to students of ChallengeEU universities (Mentees). The program aims to provide support to students who may face systemic barriers or belong to groups underrepresented in their field of study. Eligibility and selection will be guided by this equity and inclusion principle. The Programme fosters gender equality, diversity, and inclusion by ensuring equal access to mentoring for individuals of different genders, abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities. It actively promotes mentoring relationships that empower underrepresented groups to pursue academic, professional, and personal growth. §2 The aim of the Programme is to implement inclusive mentoring at the Alliance ChallengeEU as a tool empowering student, aimed at developing their potential and cross-cultural competencies, supporting their strengths, and increasing self-improvement skills. The above, in accordance with the intended goal, will increase the self-confidence, motivation for development, and awareness of students in making informed educational and career path choices. Furthermore, they will acquire knowledge directly from professionally active individuals with established knowledge and experience, which will be an inspiration for development in specific areas. Through individual mentoring relationships, participants gain access to knowledge, networks, and opportunities that may otherwise remain inaccessible. Additionally, the goal of the Programme is to create a community of ChallengeEU universities graduates who will be connected to the university through the Programme and other activities undertaken to support students in their professional development. Mentoring within the Programme may include, but is not limited to, the following areas of development: §3 The Programme is continuous, with recruitment for subsequent editions announced cyclically by the Work Package 5 (Open Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) coordinated by UWM. Each mentoring process is planned for a maximum of 6 months (min. 5 individual meetings), unless the Participants decide otherwise and it is justified by the effective achievement of the Programme’s goals. The Programme’s primary format is individual mentoring sessions between Mentor and Mentee. The implementation of additional forms is also permitted, e.g., meetings of several mentoring pairs, group workshops and/or training. The number of Participants and the form of implementation of additional activities will be determined by the Coordinator in consultation with the Participants. The Programme will be carried out on the premises of ChallengeEU universities or in other locations agreed upon in advance between the Organizer and the Participants. The working language of the Programme is English. However, where both the Mentor and the Mentee represent the same national university and agree to conduct meetings in the national language, mentoring sessions may be held in that language. In all cross-national pairs, English shall serve as the communication and reporting language. §4 Participation in the Programme is voluntary and free of charge for all Participants. In return, mentors receive a range of exclusive benefits, such as professional development at a European level, opportunities for international networking, a platform to influence higher education standards through role modelling, and membership within the international ChallengeEU university community. §5 The Organizer shall be responsible for: The responsibilities of the Mentor include: The responsibilities of the Mentee include: §5a Code of Ethics for Mentoring Participants All Participants of the ChallengeEU Mentoring Programme agree to act in accordance with the following ethical principles, which form the foundation of safe, inclusive, and development-oriented cooperation: Violation of these ethical principles may result in exclusion from the Programme. §6 – dedicating time to one’s own development and that of others; – participation in an organizational meeting and mandatory virtual training for Mentors on a date set by the Organizer; – participation in meetings with the Mentee (min. 5 meetings); – participation in a summary meeting; Please note: All meetings can be held virtually, and there are no costs associated with participation.c. willingness to share skills, knowledge, and experience;d. awareness of one’s own strengths and weaknesses in the area of soft skills and expert knowledge;e. ability to listen and provide constructive feedback;f. authenticity, honesty, sincerity, openness to other points of view, empathy;g. acceptance by the Organizer of the proposed forms and scope of issues for implementation during mentoring;h. consent to present the Mentor’s profile via publication in ChallengeEU’s promotional channels; – dedicating time to one’s own development; – participation in an organizational meeting for Mentees; – participation in meetings with the Mentor (min. 5 meetings); – participation in a summary meeting; Please note: All meetings can be held virtually, and there are no costs associated with participation.c. desire for development and possessing high personal motivation;d. readiness to work on one’s career path, including: discovering new opportunities, acquiring skills, and gaining knowledge. The mentoring program prioritizes students from groups underrepresented in certain fields of studies or universities. This includes, but is not limited to, female students in STEM, students with disabilities, racial/ethnic minority students, and international students. §7 §8 §9Personal Data Protection §10 FINAL PROVISIONS
