The Office for Professional Academic Development (OPAD) is piloting an Academic Mentoring Programme (AMP) to support new and early career academics during their initial years at the University of Malta. This initiative is designed to help them navigate the various roles and responsibilities expected, particularly as they progress through the tenure track process.

The AMP pairs early career academics (mentees) with senior, experienced colleagues (mentors) who provide advice, share knowledge and offer ongoing support over several months. The programme consists of structured meetings, goal-setting, progress evaluations, and feedback mechanisms to ensure meaningful development. Mentees receive tailored guidance to succeed in teaching, research, administrative duties, community outreach, funding initiatives, and other academic responsibilities.

Programme details

• Programme time-line - The pilot AMP is running from November 2024 to September 2025.
  
  
• Orientation session - The mentees and mentors attended an orientation session on Thursday 28 November facilitated by an international expert on academic mentoring. This session outlined the expectations and established a roadmap for the mentoring relationship.
  
  
• Mentoring sessions - These sessions being held between December 2024 and July 2025 involve structured meetings between the mentee and mentor. The frequency and format of these confidential meetings depend on the mentee-mentor agreement.
  
  
• Final meeting - The pilot AMP concludes with a meeting (September 2025) where feedback on the mentoring experience will be shared and areas for improvement will be explored.

The pilot AMP, organised by OPAD, complements and builds on the work done at the faculty/departmental level to support the career development of newly recruited academics.

This professional development initiative operates separately from the tenure award and promotional processes of the University. The mentee-mentor discussions are confidential, ensuring an open and trusting environment where the mentee can freely discuss challenges, seek advice, and receive feedback.

There are 26 early career academics and 21 senior academics participating in the pilot AMP. We are grateful to the mentors for generously giving their time to support their junior colleagues.

Prof. Maria Cassar and Dr Michelle Attard Tonna are the academic leads of this pilot initiative.