Mentoring scheme as a driver of equality, diversity and inclusion in health professions education and research

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56433/4sj2yr84

Keywords:

Career development, Promotion criteria, Teaching-focused academics, Support mechanisms, Athena Swan

Abstract

Mentoring is one of the important modalities that are known to enhance professional development of staff, including those who engage in teaching and learning of Health Professions in Higher Education as well as research of patients-focused subjects. However, while multiple mentoring schemes are available at University level, the impact they bring to the local community of staff is often unclear. With an aim to identify the current status of mentoring within the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow, the Athena Swan-led Aspiration and Development Working Group has conducted a reflective study. We analysed benefits of the existing mentoring schemes, as well as challenges met by staff in the early stages of career in the Learning, Teaching and Scholarship and the Research and Teaching tracks. Reflection was also made on the equality, diversity and inclusion of Postgraduate Research students and LGBTQ+ members of the community. We have found that there was a limited uptake despite benefits, and that there were multiple causes for this, which was beyond a lack of time. This has led to a proposal of a new mentoring scheme that focuses on local needs and the process that centres more favourably to the prospective mentees, by reducing the hurdle for participation and providing more flexibility in the format, frequency and content, with an integrated monitoring platform of the scheme, which supports sustainability. We find that, for provision of a meaningful mentoring, careful design and implementation based on the EDI ethos is essential. 

Author Biographies

  • Sue Campbell, University of Glasgow

    Sue Campbell is a Lecturer, SoMDN, leading PGT modules on the health services management and global health, and a member of the Aspiration and Development Working Group, leading on developing the mentoring scheme. 

  • Rafael Henry-Venson, University of Glasgow

    Rafael Henry-Venson is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology/Forensic Toxicology, University of Glasgow. With background in Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences, he also consults in health technology assessment and serves as EDI lead at the SoMDN. 

  • Claire Fitton, University of Glasgow

    Claire Fitton is a Lecturer in Biomedical Science, SoMDN and Human Anatomy, and a member of the Aspiration and Development Working Group. 

  • Caroline M Allen, University of Glasgow

    Caroline Allen is a Lecturer in Human Anatomy, SoMDN, and a member of the Aspiration and Development Working Group. 

  • Konstantinos Gkikas, University of Glasgow

    Konstantinos Gkikas is an ECR member of the Aspiration and Development Working Group and the previous SoMDN PGR student representative. He is currently a Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences, King’s College London, and an honorary research fellow, University of Glasgow. 

  • Tomoko Iwata, University of Glasgow

    Tomoko Iwata is a Senior Lecturer in Tumour Biology, and Director of PGR, SoMDN. She is a previous EDI lead and a member of the SoMDN Athena Swan Aspiration and Development Working Group. 

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Published

2026-09-04

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 3 (2026): September 2026

Section

Reflective Analysis Papers

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Copyright (c) 2026 Sue Campbell, Rafael Henry-Venson, Claire Fitton, Caroline M Allen, Konstantinos Gkikas, Tomoko Iwata

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