The Academic Mentoring Programme (AMP), offered annually by Office for Professional Academic Development (OPAD), supports 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.

AMP 2025-26 

• Programme time-line - The AMP is running from October 2025 to September 2026.
  
  
• Orientation session - The mentees and mentors attended an orientation session on Thursday 29 October facilitated by an international expert on academic mentoring. This session outlined the expectations and establishes a roadmap for the mentoring relationship.
  
  
• Mentoring sessions - These sessions, being held between November 2025 and July 2026, 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 AMP concludes with a meeting (September 2026) where feedback on the mentoring experience will be shared and areas for improvement will be explored.

The 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 independently of the University's tenure award and promotional processes. The mentee-mentor discussions are confidential, ensuring an open and trusting environment where the mentee can freely discuss challenges, seek advice, and receive feedback.

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 initiative.

Requests for more information or queries may be addressed to amp.opad@um.edu.mt.