About Academic Navigation
Introduction
Academic Navigation is a powerful means of building insight into your academic career options. We have blended the traditional approach to academic mentoring, heavy with advice from an experienced professor, with the insightful questions asked by an executive coach. Academic Navigation is an innovative approach to discovering career path options and moving forward with a positive plan for action. Furthermore the benefits of this approach are revealed in only approximately 200 minutes of meetings between mentor and participant. The powerful meeting that follow a soft structure to keep the conversation focused on the needs of the participant. Academic Navigation connects academics with a global panel of high achieving individuals who understand the demands of working in higher education, research and senior management.
Our Panel of Mentors
The Envisage panel of mentors is a diverse group. This panel of mentors largely represent the diversity of the population of academic staff. Many cultures, backgrounds and disciplines are represented. All these mentors have a passion for helping others. All have an academic background, while some are still in academia, others now work in business and Government while still others are retired after a career including senior roles in academia and research. Participants search the profiles that give some insight into the career journey of these fascinating individuals. Participants identify three from the panel they would be happy to have as a mentor. The chance of being matched with one of these preferences is high.
The Powerful Meetings
Up to six meetings totalling approximately three hours, using Skype or similar technology is the foundational structure of the Academic Navigation process. The early meetings will focus on the crafting of a succinctly expressed goal and exploration of the ‘current reality’ relevant to that goal. The later meetings will be focused on options to consider in moving forward toward the goal. The final meetings will focus on the preparation of a plan and commitment to action.
Building Personal Insight
While traditional mentoring is often heavy on advice, executive coaching minimises advice and focuses on plausible actions identified by the participant. Academic Navigation learns from this. We understand that there is a place for sound advice from someone who understands the politics of your discipline. However we also believe that some advice, while well intentioned, may be given without an understanding of all the circumstances of the participant.
At a Glance Compare Academic Navigation with traditional mentoring in Academia
| Traditional Mentoring in Academia | Academic Navigation |
|---|---|
| Limited access to senior women in some disciplines | Women mentors available across major disciplines |
| Access to a mentor is often restricted to those on campus at your university | Global access to a mentor across institutions |
| Unstructured conversations with few defined outcomes | A soft structure to the conversations ensures outcomes |
| Multiple meetings over 12 months | Three to six meetings only |
| Relies on voluntary time spent by mentors | Values and pays mentors for their time |
What Academic Navigation is not!
Academic Navigation is not Sponsorship or Protégé Mentoring where the mentor-coach uses their own contacts and expertise to assist in growing the career of the participant.
Academic Navigation is not counselling. It does not seek answers from the past. The focus of academic navigation is the future. Goals are set and options explored for moving forward.
Academic Navigation is not just a ‘coffee chat’. There is a structure and process that will assist the participant after the completion of the process.
There will also often be ‘homework’ for the participant to advance their thinking between sessions.
