Eastern Arc Mentoring Scheme 2025/26 open for applications

The Eastern Arc Mentoring Scheme 2025/26 has opened to applications.

The Eastern Arc Mentoring Scheme

Over 300 colleagues from across the four Eastern Arc universities (UEA, Essex, Kent and Sussex) have taken part in the scheme since it launched in 2020. It has been a chance for them to get an objective view of their position and their career, to help them address the challenges they were facing and highlight the opportunities they could take. It has allowed them to go beyond the politics and personalities of their own department and their own university.

As a result, the feedback has been exceptional, with previous participants saying that it was ‘a really valuable experience,’ which had ‘helped me immensely’, facilitating ‘more free-thinking and openness’, and which ‘pushed me to be my best self and be bold!’

For many it was ‘useful to know that I was not alone and the feelings and concerns I had were valid’, and that there was an equitability in the experience for both mentee and mentor: ‘the learning and sharing and partly mental health support has been two-way.’

And for some, the experience was life-changing:

‘The scheme definitely met my expectations and even exceeded them. My mentor was able to offer a different perspective on the issues and problems I was facing since she works at a different university – allowing me to take a step back and to see the bigger picture. She encouraged me to think about applying for my manager’s role when he left and there was a vacancy. Her wise counsel and support in this definitely played a part in me applying for and getting that promotion.’

Taking part

The scheme is open to researchers, academics, technicians and professional services staff at the four Eastern Arc universities.

To find out more and to sign up to take part, go to our dedicated page here, and fill in the simple form linked from it. The deadline for applying is 26 September 2025. However, following feedback we will be moving to a different yearly cycle from 2026 onwards, with the scheme opening in April, and the kick-off meeting, together with an informal social event, taking place in September as part of the annual Eastern Arc Conference.

More information

If you have specific questions about the scheme, contact Phil Ward.