EUPRERA aims with this project is to attract, engage and support young scholars in membership, regardless of gender and ethnicity. However, we acknowledge that women are underrepresented in many areas of academic life. This also applies to European public relations research academics – especially at higher career levels, as one of the factors that have been related to the glass ceiling is the lack of mentors in female careers.
For this reason, EUPRERA launches a pilot mentoring program in 2021 to accompany and support outstanding young communication scientists on their career paths with a special attention to female colleagues.
The program is aimed at young PR communication scientists and serves to target two objectives:
- Promotion of young scholars in science
- Reducing the gender gap supporting women on their way to a professorship
Mentoring supports the planning of the personal and scientific career of the mentees and the development of supportive relationships with other female and male scientists.
The program includes the matching of mentoring pairs (partners), mentoring and advice, as well as workshops/webinars, and is designed to run for two years.
Who can apply
All young postgraduate academics who are or become members of EUPRERA can participate. About 70% of the positions will be reserved for female scientists in order to intervene against gender gaps.
What: the idea and support
The basic idea of mentoring is that people experienced in the profession pass on their diverse experience, organizational and specialist knowledge to inexperienced people. In the EUPRERA mentoring program, this takes place within the framework of mentor partnerships, each consisting of an established professional representative (mentor) and a junior researcher (mentee).
It may include one workshop during the congress and one online webinar with experienced professionals from academia on career paths and planning. The mentoring program includes the establishment of a network for mentoring partners and supports the planning of the personal and scientific career of the participants and the development of supportive relationships with other scientists and scholars.
How to apply
The new edition of the programme is being prepared and details will be announced on this page. Reach out to Virginia Villa (dpra@euprera.org) if you’re interested in this programme.