NEWS

Hokkaido University has set forth its third medium-term goal as "promoting organizational revitalization, internationalization, and gender equality by recruiting outstanding faculty and staff who will lead the next generation, as well as creating a comfortable working environment for all faculty and staff." To achieve this goal, the university has set a medium-term plan to "increase the percentage of female managers to over 15% of the total number of regular faculty and staff in order to promote the active participation of female faculty and staff."
The Office for Supporting Female Researchers is now accepting applications for the second round of the 2018 program, with the aim of expanding the number of female researchers in senior positions and female managers by enabling female researchers to gain new perspectives, knowledge, and motivation through shadowing with senior female researchers. Please read the application guidelines below and apply.

Application Guidelines (PDF)
Application Form Download

Outline

This project supports voluntary training for female researchers aiming for career advancement, in which they shadow senior faculty members (hereinafter referred to as "mentors") to learn about research activities and work management. The aim of this training is to help them gain new perspectives, knowledge, and motivation by allowing them to experience firsthand the realities of senior positions and organizational management, thereby contributing to the expansion of senior research positions and the number of female managers.

シャドウイングとは

Shadowing involves accompanying a mentor on their daily work, observing communication and decision-making at various levels, and learning the skills and behavioral norms of a senior researcher.

Expected effects of the training

This training is expected to provide the following insights and benefits:

• Student guidance, communication skills with other members and staff.
• Knowledge of university administration and management tasks
• The practical aspects of launching, promoting, and developing collaborative research.
• Research project management methods
• Self-management for senior employees
• Improving self-development skills through the process of planning, training implementation, and results reporting.

Furthermore, network expansion through mentors is also expected.

Examples of shadowing content

• Conferences, faculty meetings, and other meetings that mentors participate in.
• Research discussions with students, guidance on presenting papers.
• Joint research meeting
• Doctoral dissertation presentation practice session
• Graduate lectures (lectures are given by trainees)
• Stay in the laboratory and observe the daily communication patterns.
• One-on-one direct instruction (mentoring sessions)

Conditions and target participants in the training plan

The training is

1. Creating a training plan
2. In accordance with the plan, shadowing training will be conducted by mentors.
3. Prepare a report on the effectiveness of the training.
   The program consists of three stages, and by conducting them all in sequence, a high level of training effectiveness can be expected.

A. If the desired mentor is a researcher within the university.

① Light Plan

Target: Female assistant professors, lecturers, and associate professors affiliated with this university (including specially appointed faculty members in these positions).
Content: A total of two hours or more of shadowing (one hour or more) or direct instruction (one hour or more) is required. Multiple sessions are permitted, but if the total exceeds six hours, a transition to the regular plan is recommended.

② Regular Plan

Target audience: Female lecturers and associate professors affiliated with this university (including specially appointed faculty members in these positions).
Contents:
Introduction… Before the training begins, trainees and mentors meet once or twice to discuss the training content and how the training will be conducted.
Actual Training… Following the "Introduction," at least three sessions of shadowing (2 hours or more per session) and at least three sessions of direct instruction (1 hour or more per session) will be conducted. Shadowing and direct instruction may be conducted on the same day. However, to maximize the effectiveness of the training, it must be completed within three months of the start of the training.

B. If the desired mentor is a researcher outside the university (domestic).

Target audience: Female lecturers and associate professors affiliated with this university (including specially appointed faculty members in these positions).
Content: Shadowing for more than 2 hours per day for more than 3 days, and a total of more than 2 hours of direct instruction during the stay.
*Direct instruction: A discussion between trainees and mentors on topics related to the training content.

Support Contents

A. In the case of an on-campus mentor

• Mentor list provided
• A research grant of 5 yen will be allocated to mentors in the regular plan.

B. In the case of an external mentor

• Mentor fees (up to 5 yen)
• Travel expenses for trainees to the training site (up to 10 yen)
  * While trainees are responsible for obtaining informal approval from their mentors, we will, if necessary, explain the purpose and significance of the training to potential mentors and support them in receiving training under their preferred mentor.

Plan migration

• If someone who has completed the Light Plan training then applies for the Regular Plan training from the same mentor, they can omit the "Introduction" session.
• If you do not wish to transition to "production" upon completion of the "implementation" phase of the Regular Plan, you will be required to submit a results report in the same format as for the Light Plan.

Mentors

Light Plan: Associate Professor, Professor
Regular plan: Professor (or equivalent position), Executive
*There are no gender restrictions for mentors.

Number of projects to be selected

A small number of students on campus
3 cases from outside the university

Training period

October 30, 9-March 15, 31

Application method

Fill in the required information on the application form,December 30, 8 (Friday)Please send it by email to the Women Researchers Support Office (freshu@synfoster.hokudai.ac.jp) by [date].

Application form

Application Guidelines (PDF)
Application Form Download

Prior consultation

We also offer pre-application consultations regarding mentoring and application details. If you would like to consult with us, please contact the Women Researchers Support Office well in advance.

Examination

Selection will be based on the application forms submitted to the Office for Supporting Female Researchers. Additional documents or interviews may be requested during the selection process.

Main judging criteria

Interest in and motivation for higher positions
Clarity of training objectives and appropriateness of training content

Results report

Participants are required to report on the results of their training using the prescribed format within one month of completing the training. Furthermore, in order to disseminate the results widely among female researchers within the university, we are considering having participants report on the training content at a debriefing session that will also serve as a networking event for female researchers.

Other Information

Participants in training sessions conducted by external mentors will be required to sign and seal a confidentiality agreement before the training takes place.

Mentor list (on campus)

This is a list of individuals who, after being informed of the purpose by the Women Researchers Support Office, readily agreed to become mentors upon application.

We also welcome applications from those interested in becoming a mentor outside of the list above.