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| 26 Jan 2024 | |
| Mentoring & Advice |
IDS Group Mentoring is designed for a group of students to develop their skills and professional goals through a series of conversations and other learning activities, led by a mentor. Within this setting, mentees can also support and learn from each other.
This programme works best for those who enjoy working and learning collaboratively. If you are looking for a more personalised experience, please consider Matched Mentoring or Ask an Alum.
The Mentor is IDS alum, Roy Trivedy (MPhil Development Studies 1984-86). Roy is currently the Honorary Consul of Timor-Leste in Scotland, a Trustee for ActionAid UK, and volunteers as a mentor for the United Nations and IDS. You can find out more about Roy in the FAQ below.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact the IDS Alumni Office: alumni@ids.ac.uk.
Application form
Group Mentoring is open to current IDS students. The programme runs once a year, usually February to August.
The next round of Group Mentoring will be advertised to students via email and on the IDS Alumni Network website. Kindly note, the form is currently closed and will re-open in January 2027.
The information on the application form is kept confidential and is held only by the Institute of Development Studies in line with our Privacy Policy.
Please note that if you are currently enrolled in our Matched Mentoring Programme, you cannot apply to be part of Group Mentoring.
Mentees should have an idea of what they hope to gain from Group Mentoring. This does not have to be a definitive plan; it is just an indication of the types of skills and strengths you hope to use in your career. Some examples of goals and questions to work on over 6-months include: How can I make the most of work experience on my CV? How can I find approach potential employers in my desired field? How can I build the confidence to start networking? How can I decide what sort of work I want to do?
Consider what characteristics and strengths you have, that can transfer well into being an effective mentee, particularly in a group setting. Ensure to bring these out clearly in your application. Some examples of these characteristics include:
We are looking for students who are committed to making the most out of this unique opportunity. Consider how you intend to use the Group Mentoring experience in your professional development. Mentoring is a long-term process - it involves listening and reflecting, practical advice, and putting learning into practice. To make the most out of this experience, be specific in your goals, strengths, and motivation to take part.
Make sure you check your application thoroughly to ensure it is clear, compelling, and reads well. Make sure to check for spelling and grammatical errors to showcase attention to detail and create a positive first impression.
The programme length is 6 months, starting in February and concluding in August. The programme will include:
The first meeting will be in person at IDS. The dates and times of group meetings will be decided by the group.
Mentoring is a two-way process and relationship; it is up to the mentees to set the direction of conversations by asking effective questions, sharing personal knowledge and perspectives, and supporting one another.
Hemansu-Roy Trivedy is retired from full-time work. He has been the Honorary Consul of Timor-Leste in Scotland since 2024. He is a Trustee for ActionAid UK. He works as a part-time, volunteer mentor for the United Nations and for the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
He served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Timor-Leste from February 2018-November 2022 and as the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea from December 2013 to December 2017. Prior to that, he worked for the Department for International Development UK for 13 years. He was a Senior Civil Servant and served as Head of Civil Society Department (2009-2013), Team Leader for the UK White Paper (Building our Common Future 2009), Head of DFID Tanzania (2006-2008), Programme Manager Central Asia and the Caucasus (2003-2005) and Conflict Adviser (Africa) 2000-2003. Roy joined DFID after 20 years of working for non-governmental organisations in the UK, Mozambique, India and Malawi. He studied at the Institute of Development Studies (MPhil 1986), University of Sussex and the University of Sheffield.
You can find out more about Roy via his LinkedIn profile, which includes links to his most recent blogs, and see the video below with a message from Roy for those interested in Group Mentoring.
Mentees Application Form for Group Mentoring with Roy is open 22 January - 2 February 2026.