The University of Warmia and Mazury, coordinator of the ChallengeEU Mentoring Programme, organised two online events dedicated to communication in mentoring and inclusive mentoring, which took place on 17 April 2026.
The workshop titled “Communication in the context of mentoring” was led by Dr Monika Cichmińska from the UWM.
“I designed these workshops in a way that would help raise awareness of how important the words we use to communicate with each other are. Despite the online format, participants practiced, among other things, active listening and formulating precise messages—ones that are not judgmental but based on facts. The goal was to learn how to become a more effective ‘communicator.’ I hope these sessions provided a foundation for further exploration of these topics,” explained Dr Monika Cichmińska.
Dr Monika Cichmińska is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Linguistics in the Department of Humanities at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland. Her academic interests include cognitive semantics, especially the use of conceptual metaphors and multimodality in popular culture, the language of emotions, and different aspects of communication. She is also interested in applied linguistics, especially the influence of affective factors in learning, and brain-friendly teaching and learning. She enjoys working with people, and likes to combine theory (linguistics, psychology and neurosciences) with practice (teaching English). In her free time, she likes to read, learn new things, go to the cinema and watch TV series.
On the same day, there was also an open online lecture dedicated to inclusive mentoring in the context of bridging academia and business. The workshop, titled “Inclusive mentoring for interdisciplinary and international career development: bridging academia and industry,” was led by Dr Hafizur Rahman from Mid Sweden University (MIUN).
The researcher shared his experience stemming from an interdisciplinary education and professional background that included academia, industry, international collaboration, and active involvement in mentoring within the ChallengeEU alliance. His lecture focused on inclusive mentoring, which allowed participants to recognize its benefits for career development, also at the international level. During the session the worlds of academia and business were brought together.
Dr Hafizur Rahman is a Researcher and Project Manager at Mid Sweden University, Sweden, working at the interface of chemical engineering, sustainable materials, and industrial innovation. His research focuses on fiber-based materials, resource-efficient processes, and advanced material characterization in close collaboration with industry and international research infrastructures. With a multidisciplinary academic background and professional experience spanning academia, industry, and international collaboration, he is actively engaged in mentoring within the ChallengeEU program. His mentoring focuses on helping early-career researchers navigate interdisciplinary and international environments, bridge academia and industry, and develop impactful, sustainable career pathways.
The workshops were mandatory for participants of the BIP programme entitled “Inclusive Mentoring and Career Development for a Diverse Academia”, but at the same time they were open to all members of the ChallengeEU alliance community.
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