A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South Africa

Globally, career development is a challenge for women academics at higher education institutions. In South African higher education institutions, Black women academics still lag in terms of career progression and their representation in leadership positions compared to their male counterparts.  Whi...

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Main Authors: Maréve Biljohn, Tatenda Shaleen Marange, Aliza le Roux, Kathleen Schroeder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate 2024-02-01
Series:African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://137.158.157.31/index.php/ajims/article/view/1428
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author Maréve Biljohn
Tatenda Shaleen Marange
Aliza le Roux
Kathleen Schroeder
author_facet Maréve Biljohn
Tatenda Shaleen Marange
Aliza le Roux
Kathleen Schroeder
author_sort Maréve Biljohn
collection DOAJ
description Globally, career development is a challenge for women academics at higher education institutions. In South African higher education institutions, Black women academics still lag in terms of career progression and their representation in leadership positions compared to their male counterparts.  While structural and systemic challenges contribute to this, a lack of formal mentorship support for Black women academics is among the underlying reasons. Against this background, using various mentorship models applied in higher education institutions as the theoretical lens, this article explores a conceptual framework for mentorship support to early-career Black women academics, which will often happen in a cross-cultural context due to historical imbalances. Through a qualitative research approach, a narrative literature review is provided based on content analysis of literature, both peer-reviewed and non-reviewed. Through a conceptual framework, this study provides insight regarding the type of mentorship support that is required to advance the career development trajectory of early-career Black women academics in South Africa, considering the paucity of women’s mentorship programs at most of our higher education institutions. Recommendations propose how mentorships can be integrated into the formal career development trajectory of these academics.  
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spelling doaj.art-c5edcd6290514297a828b8792062e3a82024-04-17T16:43:33ZengResearch and Postgraduate Support DirectorateAfrican Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies2663-45972663-45892024-02-0161A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South AfricaMaréve Biljohn0Tatenda Shaleen Marange1Aliza le Roux2Kathleen Schroeder3University of the Free State, South AfricaUniversity of the Free State, South AfricaUniversity of the Free State, South AfricaAppalachian State University, United States of America Globally, career development is a challenge for women academics at higher education institutions. In South African higher education institutions, Black women academics still lag in terms of career progression and their representation in leadership positions compared to their male counterparts.  While structural and systemic challenges contribute to this, a lack of formal mentorship support for Black women academics is among the underlying reasons. Against this background, using various mentorship models applied in higher education institutions as the theoretical lens, this article explores a conceptual framework for mentorship support to early-career Black women academics, which will often happen in a cross-cultural context due to historical imbalances. Through a qualitative research approach, a narrative literature review is provided based on content analysis of literature, both peer-reviewed and non-reviewed. Through a conceptual framework, this study provides insight regarding the type of mentorship support that is required to advance the career development trajectory of early-career Black women academics in South Africa, considering the paucity of women’s mentorship programs at most of our higher education institutions. Recommendations propose how mentorships can be integrated into the formal career development trajectory of these academics.   https://137.158.157.31/index.php/ajims/article/view/1428mentorshiphigher educationwomenblack academicsSouth Africa
spellingShingle Maréve Biljohn
Tatenda Shaleen Marange
Aliza le Roux
Kathleen Schroeder
A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South Africa
African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies
mentorship
higher education
women
black academics
South Africa
title A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South Africa
title_full A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South Africa
title_fullStr A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South Africa
title_short A Conceptual Framework for Mentorship Support to Early-Career Black Women Academics in South Africa
title_sort conceptual framework for mentorship support to early career black women academics in south africa
topic mentorship
higher education
women
black academics
South Africa
url https://137.158.157.31/index.php/ajims/article/view/1428
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