Mentoring

The Doctoral Hub is launching a brand-new form of support at VŠE for the very first time, open to PhD candidates and early-career academic and research staff (postdocs) across all faculties!

The mentoring programme offers you a unique opportunity to build an informal collaboration with an experienced professional—not only from industry, but also from academia. It allows you to connect with inspiring individuals with diverse career paths and gain support in advancing both your professional and personal journey.

A mentor does not replace your supervisor or your direct boss, but complements their role as a third, independent person—offering a different perspective, practical or academic experience, and inspiration that can open up new possibilities in your career.

The programme is flexible and long-term—each mentee sets their own goals based on individual needs. Mentoring can cover areas such as studies, career development, and work–life balance.

Based on the mentors’ profiles (which we strongly recommend reviewing), you will choose who you would like as your mentor.

First, select your primary choice of mentor and explain why you would like to work with them. We recommend giving this answer sufficient attention—your motivation is a key factor in the mentors’ selection process. You may then indicate a second preference in case your first choice is not available due to capacity.

Submit your application together with a short motivation statement (a few sentences in the application form are sufficient), explaining why you wish to be mentored by the specific mentor. The application form can be found here. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the programme coordinator, Mili Markvartová (mili.markvartova@vse.cz). Based on the motivation letters, mentors will select their mentee; if they have sufficient capacity, they may select two, depending on their availability.

Programme goals:

• Consultation on professional and personal direction, including balancing research, work, and personal life
• Inspiration through professionally and personally mature role models
• Opportunity to gain insight into practice and international academic environments
• External reflection and feedback
• Opportunities for shadowing meetings or participating in interdisciplinary activities
• Development of peer-to-peer skills

Examples of mentoring topics:

During mentoring sessions, you can discuss various areas that support your professional and personal growth. For inspiration:

Career development and direction:

• Planning an academic or non-academic career
• Balancing work and personal life
• Career changes and transitions between sectors
• Career consultations—how the mentor reached their position and what they would recommend

Academic and professional growth:

• Preparing scientific publications or outreach/popularisation texts
• Writing grant applications and project proposals
• Networking and involvement in research networks
• Participation in conferences and professional events

Skills development and leadership:

• Managing research teams and projects
• Innovative approaches to research
• Developing an entrepreneurial mindset and validating ideas
• Effective time management and balancing career with personal life

You always choose the topics based on your current needs and goals.