Matchmaking Programme is designed is to match authors (Mentees) with experienced ISOCARP Members (Mentors), to allow our young professionals for professional development through networking, guidance and sharing ideas between experienced members and young planning professionals.

Mentor a Paper

The “Mentor a Paper” Programme concept is to match authors (Mentees) with experienced ISOCARP Members (Mentors), who would help them in developing their final contribution to the Congress.

The Mentor’s role is to be in contact with the author; read the abstract and the draft of the paper; provide comments on the paper and help to guide the author to develop the paper. The Mentee’s role is to work on refining the paper under the guidance of the Mentor.

It is entirely up to the Mentor and Mentee to decide how often they would like to stay in contact and work on refining the paper. Most usually the interaction is only virtual and depends on the specific case.

The Mentor’s presence at the ISOCARP World Planning Congress is not required, although would be most encouraged. We hope that by this we can guarantee the best quality of the papers presented at the congress, and also that Mentor and Mentee would mutually benefit from the interaction and knowledge transfer.

We also aim to bring our Members closer together and provide assistance within the ISOCARP network. Each year we issue a call for Mentors and Mentees to match both sides. The call to become a Mentor has been successful and well-qualified Mentors are now supporting junior authors in writing their paper for the Congress.

Mentoring Sessions at the ISOCARP World Planning Congress

“Mentoring Sessions” during the coffee breaks at the congress are an opportunity for meetings between the delegates. One of them acts as Mentor, a more experienced ISOCARP member, and the other one is a Mentee, who would like to learn more about the society, and receive guidance on their career and professional development.

Mentors meet with Mentees for a short meeting during the congress, they can also communicate virtually with each other prior to the meeting. The aim is to allow for professional development through networking, guidance and sharing ideas between experienced members and young planning professionals.

Mentors and Mentees apply to take part in the programme. They are matched before the congress. ISOCARP will schedule a meeting during one of the coffee breaks. Within the circumstances of Covid-19, Mentors and Mentees are encouraged to schedule their own virtual meeting.

Mentors explain how their professional work looks like, how they see the profession, how they benefit from being part of ISOCARP, what are the society’s activities, give hints on career development etc. Both parties get to know each other.

Virtual Mentoring Sessions

Within the circumstances of Covid-19 pandemic agenda, this year we started to offer Virtual Mentoring Sessions between the ISOCARP members and congress delegates. One of them acts as Mentor, a more experienced ISOCARP member, and the other one is a Mentee, who would like to learn more about the society, and receive guidance on their career and professional development. The aim is to allow for professional development through networking, guidance and sharing ideas between experienced members and young planning professionals. Mentors and Mentees apply to take part in the programme, they are matched by ISOCARP. Mentors meet with Mentees for a short online meeting in a time slot they arrange. Mentors explain how their professional work looks like, how they see the profession, how they benefit from being part of ISOCARP, what are the society’s activities, give hints on career development etc. Both parties get to know each other.

To become a Mentor, please visit Mentor a Paper application platform.
To become a Mentee, please visit Mentee application platform.