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Women in Universities Mentoring Scheme (WUMS)

Please note: These pages are for information only.

The Women in Universities Mentoring Scheme is no longer accepting applications and is undergoing an evaluation over the next six months. If you are currently involved in the scheme and need to contact the project with regards to your match please email WUMS at: wums@glam.ac.uk. Please be aware that there may be a delay in responding to your email as there is no longer a Project Coordinator in post. Alternatively, please contact Isabella Santamaria (ext. 79241, SantamariaI1@cardiff.ac.uk).

The Women in Universities Mentoring Scheme (WUMS) is a dynamic and innovative scheme that aims to promote and facilitate professional development for women working in Welsh universities by setting up inter-university mentoring partnerships. The WUMS has been funded by HEFCW to help support women working in HEIs in Wales into more senior academic and managerial positions. Under this all-Wales scheme, mentees receive encouragement, support and advice from a more experienced colleague to help realise potential and fulfil career aspirations. We aim to cultivate a supportive inter-university network through which women HEI employees can learn by example, receive encouragement, support and advice and build the necessary confidence to advance their careers and fulfil their potential.

By bringing women from different universities together, offering opportunities for early career women staff to link with and learn from more senior and experienced colleagues, and providing networking opportunities, we hope that the WUMS will help create a culture where high aspirations and professional success for women working in Welsh HEIs is ‘the norm’. The scheme is open to women working in academic and support departments of HEIs in Wales at all levels.

Mentors

The recruitment of good mentors is absolutely integral to the success of the WUMS programme.

  • Are you a good listener who is able to encourage and advise others?
  • Are you interested in challenging and helping someone to reach further?
  • Are you prepared to invest time and effort?
  • Are you willing to share your personal knowledge and experiences?
  • Can you keep matters confidential?
  • Can you help another woman achieve success?

If you can answer yes to these questions then we would love to hear from you.

‘I really enjoyed participating in the scheme and would definitely recommend it to others.’
(Feedback from mentor)

Mentees

Participation in a mentoring scheme can be an enjoyable and highly effective way of developing your professional skills and of increasing your chances of fulfilling your potential in your chosen career.

  • Are you interested in advancing your career?
  • Are you able to take active responsibility for your own development?
  • Are you open to receiving constructive criticism and feedback?
  • Are you willing to accept challenges?
  • Are you committed to working through employment issues?
  • Are you able to set and achieve goals?
  • Are you prepared to make changes?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions then you may benefit from working with a mentor.

‘My involvement with WUMS has been nothing short of life-changing!’
(Feedback from mentee)

For further information, please contact Isabella Santamaria, santamariaI1@cf.ac.uk; extension 029 208 79241.

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