Mentoring programmes for women in research and academia in Europe

This work was conducted as part of Working Group 1, COST Action VOICES, CA20137, funded by the European Union. Dataset Description: Mapping Mentorship Programmes for Women and Marginalised Academics This dataset documents an exploratory mapping of mentorship programmes designed to support women and other marginalised groups within academic and research environments across Europe and neighbouring regions. The initiative was led by members of VOICES Working Group 1 (WG1), who contributed insights based on their local institutional knowledge. Rather than aiming for statistical representativeness, the mapping sought to capture diverse, context-specific examples of mentoring practices and structures.Methodological OverviewThe data collection followed a structured yet flexible approach, as outlined below: Purpose: To identify and evaluate mentoring schemes that promote equity and inclusion for women and marginalised academics, using a “gender+” lens.Contributors: WG1 members, comprising researchers and practitioners from 18 countries.Sources of Information: Institutional websites, national policy documents, peer recommendations, and contributions from the Inclusive Mentoring and Support Toolkit (IMST).Timeframe: March to December 2023, with additional entries added during the IMST event in July 2024.Analytical Approach: Programmes were categorised using qualitative typologies and analysed thematically to assess inclusivity and structural features.Limitations: The dataset reflects localised knowledge and publicly available information; it is not exhaustive or statistically generalisable.Ethical Scope: No personal or individual-level data were collected; the focus remained on publicly accessible institutional initiatives. Selection Criteria Programmes were included or excluded based on the following parameters: Inclusion Criteria: Formal mentoring schemes accessible in the contributor’s country or in other countries via a known language.Programmes known to WG1 members, selected for illustrative purposes.Initiatives with either individual or systemic impact within the research ecosystem.Target audiences included women researchers and academics at all career stages, from doctoral candidates to professors.Coverage across multiple disciplines and sectors.Application of intersectional perspectives (e.g., gender combined with race/ethnicity, disability, or socio-economic background).Inclusion of intersectoral programmes (e.g., leadership or entrepreneurship) where relevant to academic contexts. Exclusion Criteria: Mentoring programmes focused solely on undergraduate or master’s students.Informal, unofficial, or one-off events, awards, or ad hoc activities.Programmes aimed at professional services or non-academic staff.Generic mentoring schemes that did not meet the inclusion criteria. Dataset ContentsThis dataset comprises 81 mentoring programmes from 19 countries, along with seven international initiatives. The mapping exercise revealed both gaps in policy and structure, as well as innovative and promising practices in mentoring design and evaluation. These findings offer valuable insights into how mentoring can be leveraged to foster inclusivity and support underrepresented groups in academia.