Talking career across disciplines: Peer group mentoring for women academics

Abstract

This paper presents the lived experiences of eight women academics who were members of a Women’s Group Mentoring Program during a period of rapid change in a university environment. Using a qualitative approach integrated with a participatory action research method, data was generated through the narratives of the group members. The analysis identified diversity in strategies used by the women to navigate their career pathways. The findings contribute to the dialogue in universities and similar organisations to attract and retain quality staff in an era of skills shortage created by a workforce close to retirement age.

Keywords

• Career pathways
• gender
• narrative enquiry
• peer group mentoring
• women academics