UHI Mentoring Scheme Annual Residential
UHI Mentoring Residential 2025: 20 - 21 August
This two day residential is taking place at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban, and will support and develop mentoring skills through hands on workshops with external and internal facilitators. The residential is open to mentors already registered on the UHI Mentoring Scheme and those aspiring to mentor through the Scheme.
“Good mix of participants, different speakers and activities. Liked the welcome pack as well”
“The residential was excellent.”
“Trainer-facilitators are lovely and each bring a different perspective”
Programme
| Timings | Programme |
|---|---|
|
Day one: 20 August |
UHI Presenters and Facilitators:Alex Walker, Head of Academic Practice Development Wendy Jessiman, Senior Lecturer in Academic Practice and Innovation Professor John Howe, Professor of Marine Geology |
| 10:45– 11:10 | Registration and coffee |
| 11:10 – 11:20 |
Welcome and overview
|
| 11:20 – 12:00 |
UHI Mentoring Scheme overview:
|
|
12:00 – 13:00 |
The Mentor:
|
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch and networking |
| 14:00 – 15:30 |
Questions – why we use them and creating learning moments:
|
| 15:30 – 15:50 | Coffee and networking |
| 15:50 – 16:50 |
Listening in mentoring:
|
| 16:50 - 17:00 |
Reflections on the day |
Day two
| Timings | Programme |
|---|---|
Day two: 21 August |
Presenters and Facilitators:Kay Guccione, Head of Research Culture & Researcher Anne Beth Jordan, Coach/Mentor |
| 09:30 – 10:00 |
Registration and settling back in |
| 10.00 – 10.50 |
Keynote presentation: Keeping the mentoring conversation flowingDr Kay Guccione, Head of Research Culture and Research Development Session outline: We all occasionally experience mentees going silent on us, not knowing what to say, or falling out of contact after one or two meetings. This 1h interactive keynote will look at the reasons why mentees go silent, and what we can do about it. We will take a detailed look at a range of common mentoring sticking points and how to set up a partnership in a way that helps us to avoid these pitfalls. We’ll discuss where and how to (re)engage mentees, and try out some conversational techniques for keeping the mentee talking, thinking, and moving forward. |
| 10:50 – 11:15 |
Coffee break and moving for parallel sessions |
| 11:15 – 12:15 |
Parallel workshopsChoice one: Supervising like a mentor: holding space for a learning conversationDr Kay Guccione, Head of Research Culture and Research Development Both mentoring and postgraduate supervision are educational practices and mentoring offers us pedagogies we can deploy in supervision to engage, co-create, and form learning alliances with our students. Understanding what is learned, who learns, when, and crucially how learning takes place in the doctorate, helps us to see many places that we can ‘plug in’ our mentoring skills, whilst being mindful of the power, and position tensions we experience. This workshop will help to surface how we can increase learning for students, through a 'mentor-like' approach. (This session will also be offered to UHI colleagues externally to the residential through Microsoft Teams: book by emailing events.lta@uhi.ac.uk |
Choice two: Mentoring Conversations That MatterAnne Beth Jordan, Coach/Mentor
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|
| 12:15 – 13:15 |
Lunch and Networking |
| 13:15 - 14:15 |
Wellness Beyond the BuzzwordAnne Beth Jordan, Coach/Mentor
|
| 14:15 - 14:45 | Final reflections and close |
Mentoring Residential: Presenters and Facilitators
Mentoring Residential: Presenters and Facilitators
Dr Kay Guccione, Head of Research Culture & Researcher Development, University of Glasgow
My teaching is research education focused, and can be understood as having strategic impact on the enhancement of doctoral student learning and doctoral learning environments, and in parallel, on the enhancement of academic practice through the development of supervisors, research leadership, and through the career structures and policies which enable this development.
In 2018 I won a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of my international reputation and strategic impact. I was also the first winner to gain this recognition in the field of Researcher Education.
In 2019 I was awarded Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. This recognises "those who can demonstrate sustained and effective strategic leadership of higher education practice, with extensive impact on high-quality learning, beyond their institution".
Anne Beth Jordan, Coach/Mentor
Over 25 years ago, I had a vision of growing a fashion business from my kitchen table to somewhere a little more... swanky. And while I did move beyond the kitchen table (the swankiness is still up for debate), the journey taught me more than business manual ever could.
Building a business from scratch through changing markets, global uncertainty, and personal pressures taught me what it really means to commit to a dream. It showed me how to hold onto values, navigate complexity, remain relevant in a constantly changing market place and still find time for family and the kind of quiet moments that preserve our sense of self.
In 2020, I shifted direction. I stepped away from my business to retrain with The Coaching Academy as a Professional and Personal Development Coach, accredited by the ICF. This marked the start of a new chapter - one where I could combine practical experience with coaching methodologies to support others on their own journeys.
Now, I work with women in leadership, CEOs, and small business owners and their staff, to help them find clarity, confidence, and momentum. Through tailored coaching and deep listening, I support both business, private and professionals, as well as those across learning communities - to see the opportunities beyond the obstacles, and to reconnect with a sense of purpose in both life and work.
Two years ago I was invited back to the Coaching Academy, where I trained, to mentor their students as they progressed through their own Diplomas, whether PPD, Education or Small Business Development (all part of the Courses offered by the Coaching Academy). This mentoring covers a very broad range of topics which allows me to be flexible and agile in my mentoring processes to ensure that each student leaves the sessions with more tools and skills to help them become fully qualified Coaches.
I also run my own workshops on Business – Building with Intention - as well as a Visionaries Business Clinic.
‘If you're ready to break through uncertainty and step boldly into growth, I'm here to guide you’.
Alex Walker, Head of Academic Practice Development UHI
Alex started coordinating the UHI Mentoring Scheme in 2017, as well as leading the Professional Recognition mentoring strand. Alex also mentors colleagues for professional recognition and has mentored and coached colleagues at UHI. Alex’s interest in mentoring has grown with her role, recognising and seeing the benefits that mentoring can bring, including supporting the development and enhancement of practice and connecting colleagues across location, disciplines and roles. Alex was awarded ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring qualification in 2023 and in 2022 completed a MEd dissertation exploring the experiences of colleagues engaged in mentoring through the UHI scheme.
Wendy Jessiman, Senior Lecturer in Academic Practice and Innovation UHI
Wendy Jessiman is member of the Teaching and Learning Team, a Senior Lecturer in Academic Development and Innovation, and has worked at UHI since 2017 (previously Department of Nursing and Midwifery). Wendy coordinates the Learning and Teaching Enhancement strand. She has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate students, and developed and led programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Over 4 decades Wendy has published and presented (PURE), sharing her experience and supporting others to develop their careers in healthcare or in academia. Wendy recognises the role of mentoring in providing an opportunity for staff to explore avenues for both personal and professional development.
John Howe, Professor of Marine Geology SAMS
John Howe is UHI Professor of Marine Geology, and he started at SAMS in 1998, helping to develop the BSc Marine Science programme which he now leads. He has been active in research, education and management for over 25 years; leading major research projects, supervising PhD students and teaching at postgraduate and undergraduate level. In addition, he is presently Convenor of the SAGES pool Graduate School. Throughout this time John has benefitted greatly from the support and guidance from a number of valued mentors. In the last few years, he has become increasingly involved with the UHI Mentoring Scheme, registered as both a mentor and a mentee for the research strand and for Alpine. He very much believes in the benefits of mentoring to individuals, teams, institutes, and the university.