This Autumn, the Doctoral College will work with our partners at The Reverse Mentoring Practice to deliver a programme of Reverse Mentoring for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ReMEDI).

This is the opportunity for postgraduate researchers from diverse, underrepresented groups to shape the organisational culture of the university by mentoring a senior member of staff here at Surrey.

What Is Reverse Mentoring?

The Reverse Mentoring Practice takes an innovative approach to reverse mentoring relationships that disrupts traditional power dynamics and reverses the deficit model.

The ReMEDI Framework was developed by founder Stacy Johnson MBE, Associate Professor at the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham. The framework is a result of her action research around critical inclusive leadership.

How Does It Work?

The Reverse Mentoring framework delivers high impact reverse mentoring relationships for individuals and organisations that want to enhance the cultural humility of leaders that equips them to achieve transformative inclusion at institutional level.

The Reverse Mentoring Practice’s research-led approach is designed for institutions and individuals that are truly committed to enabling game-changing conversations about complex, sensitive topics like race, disability, sexual orientation, class, faith, religious beliefs and more.

ReMEDI involves pairing postgraduate researchers (mentors) with more senior staff members (mentees) to engage in complex, compassionate and constructive partnerships to build an even more inclusive culture at the university.

What Are the Benefits?

In addition to enriching your experience as a postgraduate researcher at the University of Surrey, ReMEDI will deliver the following benefits:

• Building a culture of trust and empathy
• Supporting generational inclusivity
• Promoting diversity
• Increasing PGR engagement
• Building a more diverse pipeline to academic and non-academic careers

What Is Your Time Commitment?

Mentors will be expected to participate in the following:

• Online Mentor Training – 1 day in November 2023
• 1-2-1 Reverse Mentoring with their Paired Mentee – 6 x 1 hour per month from December 2023
• Peer Support Sessions – 1 hour per month for 5 months
• Final Reflection – 2 hours in May 2024

Who Is Eligible?

Any postgraduate researcher who is committed to disrupting traditional power dynamics. We particularly encourage expressions of interest from those who belong to one (or more) of the following groups:

• PGRs who identify as Black, Asian, and minority ethnic
• PGRs who identify as LGBTQIA+
• PGRs who identify as disabled, d/Deaf or neurodiverse
• PGRs who are care-experienced (carers or care-leavers)
• PGRS who are women in male-dominated fields
• Overseas/International PGRs

How To Register Your Interest in Taking Part

If you would like to become a Reverse Mentor in November 2023, please register your interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/NB2JnSTzz3

If you would like any more information of the Reverse Mentoring programme, please contact jr0065@surrey.ac.uk