The design and evaluation of a postdoctoral mentoring programme to support the academic and professional development of NIHR Academy members

Purpose This study provides insight into the design, implementation and evaluation of a structured developmental mentoring programme, created to support the academic and professional development of postdoctoral researchers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. The research context is the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Academy. The Academy attracts, trains and supports health and care researchers through personal or institutional career development awards, as well as training and academic career development within NIHR infrastructure, schools and capacity-building structures. The mentoring programme is open to all UK-based postdoctoral Academy members. Design/methodology/approach The approach first sets out the context, purpose and design of the mentoring programme. Second, we explore the extent to which the mentor- and mentee-defined relationship objectives were fulfilled and whether the programme met the underlying principles of the NIHR. Finally, we identified participants’ level of satisfaction with the programme. The study adopted a pragmatic multiple-method evaluation, with matched-pair mentee and mentor interviews that were thematically analysed. Findings The study found that all participants felt they met all or most of their mentoring objectives and overall programme objectives. The mentoring programme was highly valued by a diverse range of participating mentors and mentees from different health, care and research disciplines, reflective of the NIHR Academy. Research limitations/implications Limitations of this study include the short-term outcomes that participants were asked to reflect on at the end of the one-year programme; other studies may capture longer-term outcomes through longitudinal evaluation. Originality/value The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the benefits and organisational support that postdoctoral researchers (mentees) and their mentors receive through mentoring programme participation. This study underscores the importance and impact of a structured, formal organisational mentoring programme.