University of Huddersfield launches collaborative diversity mentoring scheme

The University of Huddersfield is launching a new diversity mentoring scheme for staff in partnership with a number of higher education institutions across Yorkshire.

The scheme was initiated by the University as part of its ongoing commitment to ensure an inclusive and diverse community of staff and students in which everyone is valued equally.

Launching in September, the ‘U-Connect’ diversity mentoring scheme will provide cross-institutional mentoring to colleagues at the University of Huddersfield, Leeds Trinity, Sheffield Hallam, York St John and Sheffield University.

Pictured left to right above are Olivia Briddon (Univserity of Huddersfield), Simon Errington (York St John), Sue Carr (Leeds Trinity) and Professor Charles Egbu (VC at Leeds Trinity).

The aim of the scheme is to provide University staff from diverse backgrounds with career support, development and progression. Participants can engage in the scheme as a mentor or be mentored by someone from a different institution.

U-Connect has been established to improve career development and progression opportunities for those who may have experienced barriers on account of their race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic, or intersectionality.  The scheme also aims to open up networking opportunities to people working in higher education, boost their confidence, and enhance their career prospects.

Olivia Briddon, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at the University of Huddersfield, said: “The new scheme was developed to support staff development and positively impact our growing learning community.  We are looking forward to seeing how our first, pilot year goes and to hopefully making a real difference to the professional development of all those involved, whether as a mentor or mentee”.

The University will provide five mentor and five mentee places for the U-Connect scheme during its pilot year, with mentoring starting in October 2021 and running until August 2022.

We are accepting applications from colleagues who may wish to mentor others or to be mentored under the Scheme. Further information and application forms to be a Diversity Mentor or Mentee are available from Olivia Briddon, to which applications should be submitted by Friday 3 September 2021. Training for mentors will be delivered by an external consultant, Sneha Kiley from Blue Tulip Consultancy, and will take place on Friday 17 September 2021 from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. 

More information about the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion can be found on the website.