Asian Fish Welfare Network (AFWN) Mentorship Scheme
The Mentorship Scheme is a structured professional development initiative designed to connect experienced fish welfare researchers, practitioners, and sector leaders with early career professionals and new entrants working across Asia.
The scheme will provide a supportive platform for knowledge exchange, career development, and regional networking, helping to build a strong and connected community of fish welfare professionals across academia, industry, NGOs, policy, and applied practice.
Mentorship relationships will focus on professional guidance, research development, practical problem-solving, and supporting mentees to navigate career pathways in fish welfare and related disciplines.
Who can participate?
Mentors
AFWN mentors are experienced professionals who are committed to supporting the development of the next generation of fish welfare researchers and practitioners. Mentors provide guidance, encouragement, and professional insight to help mentees build confidence, develop skills, and navigate career pathways in fish welfare science and practice.
Mentees
AFWN mentees are individuals seeking guidance, support, and professional development opportunities within fish welfare research and practice. Through mentorship, mentees can strengthen skills, expand networks, explore career pathways, and contribute to the advancement of fish welfare across Asia.
Structure of the scheme
Mentorship Duration
The recommended mentorship cycle is 12 months, which provides sufficient time for relationship building, goal setting, and meaningful professional development while remaining manageable for participants.
Meeting Expectations
Mentor-mentee pairs are encouraged to:
Meet at least once every 2–3 months
Hold a minimum of 3–5 meetings during the mentorship cycle
Communicate via online platforms such as Zoom, Teams, or email
Agree on expectations and goals at the start of the partnership
Matching Process
Participants will complete a short application form outlining:
Areas of expertise or interest
Career stage
Preferred topics for mentorship
Languages spoken
Geographic region
Professional goals
The AFWN coordination team will match mentors and mentees based on:
Shared interests
Professional goals
Sector expertise
Language and communication preferences
Regional relevance where possible
Cross-country and cross-sector mentoring will be encouraged to strengthen international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Expected Outcomes
The AFWN Mentorship Scheme is expected to:
Increase engagement within the AFWN community
Support retention and progression of early career professionals
Strengthen regional fish welfare expertise
Increase collaborative projects and publications
Enhance confidence and leadership among emerging professionals
Improve connections between research, policy, and practice
Foster a sustainable international fish welfare network
