In Higher Education, coaching and mentoring are often distinct but closely interconnected practices, and many colleagues find themselves working across both.

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This group is for colleagues involved in mentoring programmes, mentoring practice, or mentor and mentee development who are interested in exploring the relationship between coaching and mentoring in the HE context. It will provide a space to consider how coaching principles and practices can enhance mentoring relationships, helping mentors move beyond advice-giving by incorporating active listening, powerful questioning and reflective dialogue to support insight, learning and self-directed development, while still drawing appropriately on their own experience and expertise.

The group will also consider how approaches commonly used to support coaches - such as CPD, reflective practice, supervision, and peer learning -might be adapted to strengthen mentoring practice and mentor development.

Through discussion, shared learning, and exchange of practice, the group aims to build greater understanding of mentoring in HE and to identify ways that mentoring in HE can become more developmental, reflective, and impactful.

Group’s objectives for 2026/27:

1. Build a network for colleagues involved in mentoring and mentor/mentee development across HE.

2. Output: A series of regular meetings enabling members to share practice, challenges, and learning.

3. Explore how mentoring programmes and mentoring relationships can become more developmental, reflective and impactful.

4. Output: Practical guidance and resources that members can adapt within their own institutions.

5. Identify and share good practice in mentoring within Higher Education.

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Output: A summary of insights, case examples and key recommendations generated by the group.