APWiL Mentoring Program Pilot 2020
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About the Event
What is the APWiL Mentoring Program Pilot?
Participating Institutions
About the APWiL Program
Information for Mentors
Information for Mentees
Nomination Process
Important Dates

We are excited to share that the Asia-Pacific Women in Leadership (APWiL) Mentoring Program Pilot has been launched!

More information about the launch event at: https://apru.org/apwil-launches-mentoring-program-pilot-program/

There are complex social and economic barriers to women’s advancement in leadership. Additionally, gender stereotypes and the diverse social norms of the many cultures spanning the Pacific Rim creates wide implementation gaps in gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives in Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) higher education institutions. Women who lead and aspire to lead these institutions, experience barriers to leadership with little institutional support and guidance.

The current challenges around the world relating to COVID-19 are amplifying the obstacles that women face in their daily lives as they take care of children, maintain their household and continue to perform at work. Recent reports have shown that the pandemic is having differing impacts on female and male researchers around the world. The research output from women has decreased, especially in cases when women have a dependent child age 0-5. In addition, public recognition of the persistent and systematic racism highlights challenges that women of color confront.

The APWiL Mentoring Program Pilot offers women and leaders at APRU universities an opportunity to grow the pipeline of aspiring women leaders, to increase awareness of challenges that aspiring women leaders face within the region, and to introduce global and intercultural dimensions (of women leadership) to leaders across the APRU network and beyond.

The APWiL Mentoring Program is led by HKUST, UC Davis Global Affairs, the UC Davis Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the APWiL Core Group and the APRU Secretariat.

The APWiL Mentoring Program Pilot provides international and intercultural opportunities for the empowerment, professional growth and development of aspiring women leaders within APRU. In particular, the program intends to:

  • Grow the pipeline of aspiring women leaders within APRU.
  • Identify professional opportunities for growth and skills development of APRU aspiring women leaders.
  • Increase awareness of challenges that aspiring women leaders face within the region.
  • Learn about successful strategies used by APRU senior leaders.
  • Connect senior leaders at APRU institutions with emerging women leaders to create an effective network.
  • Introduce global and intercultural dimensions (of women leadership) to leaders across the APRU network and beyond.
  • Advance ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of participants’ institutions.

Program Design and Outcomes

The APWiL Mentoring Program is a year-long commitment matching a mentor and mentee from one of the participating APRU member universities. During the initial pilot program 10 APRU member institutions will participate. Each participating institution can be represented by up to two sets of mentors and mentees. Depending on mentor/mentee balance the program will have a maximum of 40 participants.

  • Mentors may be men or women leaders at a participating institution who are interested in supporting the growth of aspiring women leaders at APRU institutions.
  • Mentor and mentee will develop a mentoring agreement identifying goals for the program.
  • Mentor and mentee will set a schedule of bi-monthly virtual conversations (at least six meetings during the program duration).
  • Mentor and mentee will participate in two virtual meetings with the Mentoring Program cohort focused on topics relating to leadership, empowerment, professional growth, etc.
  • Mentor and mentee will participate in a virtual kick-off meeting for all program participants and a concluding seminar (linked to APM or Senior International Leaders Meeting).
  • Mentor and mentee will provide an update half-way through the program to assess their progress.
  • A final written program evaluation will be submitted by each mentor and mentee.

The APWiL Mentoring Program is a year-long commitment matching a mentor and mentee from one of the participating APRU member universities. During the initial pilot program 10 APRU member institutions will participate.

  • Mentors/mentees must be faculty associated with one of the participating member institutions. Post docs, graduate students, and non-academic staff are not eligible to participate at this time.
  • Mentors of any gender are welcome to participate; mentees should identify as women (meaning cisgender, transgender, gender expansive, and intersex people who identify as women).
Keio University Osaka University The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The University of British Columbia The University of Sydney
University of California Davis University of California Los Angeles University of Malaya
  UNSW Sydney  

The APRU Asia Pacific Women in Leadership (APWiL) Program addresses gender imbalances in APRU member universities by taking into account the various contexts in which this pursuit for gender equity takes place across the Asia Pacific.

The APRU APWiL Core Group shapes the direction and activities of the program.

Sabrina Lin, Co-Chair, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Joanna Regulska, Co-Chair, University of California, Davis

Victoria Panova, Far Eastern Federal University

Atsuko Iwanami, Keio University

Junko Kimura, Osaka University

Suk Ying Wong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Sara-Jane Finlay, The University of British Columbia

Katherine Belov, The University of Sydney

Cindy Fan, University of California, Los Angeles

Denise Konan, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa

Yvonne Lim Ai Lian & Suat Yan Lai, University of Malaya

Derlie Mateo-Babiano, University of Melbourne

Nathalie Verceles, University of the Philippines

Program Goals for Mentors

  • Join a network of like-minded professionals striving to drive gender balance in leadership positions at their university.
  • Advance leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills of aspiring women leaders.
  • Empower the next generation of women leaders at your institution and across the region.
  • Build a strong and supportive network from across the leading research universities of the Asia Pacific.
  • Give back to the community in a meaningful way through supporting younger women and developing their leadership skills.

Expectations of an Effective Mentor

  • All Mentors, both men and women, work on a voluntary basis and share the same philosophy and values: to support women striving to achieve leadership capacity in their higher education institutions.
  • Mentors will provide: advice in their respective fields of expertise; offer access to their networks, will share their experiences, and will support mentees in their professional leadership development.
  • Mentors communicate openly providing support as well as constructive feedback to mentees in order to help them achieve their goals.

Program Goals for Mentees

  • Develop a year-long plan to advance professional growth and leadership skills.
  • Develop a self-reflective understanding and acceptance of your unique leadership style and strengths. Gain confidence in your unique abilities as a leader.
  • Expand leadership acumen skills through training and learning from highly successful professionals outside their direct sphere of activity.
  • Build a strong and supportive network with women from universities across the Asia Pacific.
  • Gain insights and guidance to better tackle issues or challenges in the workplace

Expectations of an Effective Mentee

  • Develop leadership skills to navigate the challenges women face at different stages of their careers in higher education.
  • Participate fully in the relationship with their mentor and to actively engage in their development.
  • Listen to and accept the mentor’s comments and suggestions in a constructive manner.
  • Respect their mentor’s commitment and keep their mentor updated on developments throughout the process.

Suggested Topics for Discussions

  • What does it mean to be a leader in the Asia Pacific? What are the challenges that women face as leaders in higher education? How are challenges shaped by your experiences in your cultural context? Define your leadership goals with your mentor and an action plan to accomplish those goals.
  • What are the best strategies to develop a leadership practice? How do you recognize your leadership strengths? How do you use your unique strengths to persuade and influence? What role do cultural dimensions play in effective negotiations? How do you become more effective?
  • How to develop a professional growth strategy? What are the best practices in identifying professional opportunities? What does a successful strategy include?
  • What do you need to do to plan future possibilities as a leader? How do you create a personal development plan? What goals would you set for yourself?

Each participating institution should create an internal process for selecting candidates and submit the nomination for up to two mentors and two mentees representing their institution to the APWiL Mentoring Program Coordinator, Chelsey Hawes at [email protected] by September 18, 2020 at 5:00pm PDT. View eligibility requirements and materials to be submitted with the nomination.

Eligibility

  • Mentors/mentees must be faculty associated with one of the participating member institutions. Post docs, graduate students, and non-academic staff are not eligible to participate at this time.
  • Mentors of any gender are welcome to participate; mentees should identify as women (meaning cisgender, transgender, gender expansive, and intersex people who identify as women).

For Mentors

  • Professional bio (250 words). Please also include your full name; title; name of the institution; and your email address.
  • A statement indicating relevant mentoring and leadership experiences and your willingness to share your knowledge, skills and expertise (300 words).

 For Mentees

  • Professional bio (250 words). Please also include your full name; title; name of the institution; and your email address.
  • Personal statement indicating (500 words):
    • Why would you like to participate in the program?
    • What do you hope to learn from your mentor?
    • What are 1-2 goals you would like to accomplish during your participation in the program?
    • Which areas/topics would you like to discuss with your mentor?

Criteria for Matching Mentors and Mentees

Mentors and mentees will be matched based on a consideration of:

  • Mentee goals and mentor areas of expertise.
  • Fields and areas of research of the mentor and mentee.
  • Region where the mentor and mentee are based.
Nomination Period Opens August 18, 2020
Mentor and Mentee Nomination Deadline September 18, 2020, 5PM PDT
Mentor and Mentee Nomination Deadline October 16, 2020
Orientation October 30, 2020 (tentative date)
Closing Session September 2021
Contact
Us

Address: APRU International University Centre, Unit 902, Cyberport 2, 100 Cyberport Road, Hong Kong
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +852 2117 7060
Fax: +852 2117 7077

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