Launching the Black Legacy in Student Success mentoring scheme

Posted on: 4 October 2024 by Dr Carl Larsen in October 2024 posts

Illustration of a tree and branches

As part of our celebration of Black History Month, we are excited to announce the launch of our new Black Legacy in Student Success (BLiSS) mentoring scheme.

This initiative aims to support Black students, particularly those in their second and third years, pursuing careers in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) by providing them with the guidance, community, and resources needed to thrive in their academic and professional journeys.

We have set up the scheme to help address the critical underrepresentation of Black individuals in STEMM fields. Despite entering university with similar qualifications, Black STEMM students are half as likely to graduate with first-class honours compared to their white peers and are twice as likely to leave without completing their degrees. This disparity contributes to a cycle where white professionals are three times more likely to attain professorships than their Black counterparts.

Importantly, our students have expressed a clear demand for a local mentoring scheme tailored to their specific needs. While the University is an alliance member of the National BBSTEM scheme, uptake has been variable. This initiative represents a focused effort to create a supportive framework for Black students in the North West, empowering them to excel in their studies and beyond.

Colleagues at the University and I have developed this scheme in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, highlighting our regional commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the North West.

Benefits for mentees and mentors

The BLiSS mentoring scheme is designed to benefit both mentees and mentors:

Mentees will gain access to:

  • Guidance from experienced professionals who have faced similar challenges in STEMM.
  • A sense of belonging and a safe space to share concerns and seek advice.
  • Career insights and networking opportunities crucial for navigating academia and industry.

For mentors, the scheme offers:

  • Personal fulfilment from helping the next generation of Black STEMM professionals.
  • Professional growth through the development of leadership, communication, and coaching skills.
  • Cultural awareness and the opportunity to build valuable connections.

Launch event

To mark the launch of the BLiSS mentoring scheme, we are hosting an event on Wednesday, 30 October, from 4pm-5.30pm in the Eleanor Rathbone Building at the University of Liverpool. This event will provide an overview of the mentoring scheme, explaining how second- and third-year students and staff can get involved as mentees or mentors.

Attendees can also enjoy an Afro-Caribbean-inspired meal featuring Afro-Caribbean chicken curry, rainbow veggie curry, rice and peas, festivals, and slaw. It will be a wonderful opportunity to network, learn more about this important initiative, and celebrate Black History Month too.

Visit our Eventbrite page to sign up to the launch event or for more information please contact bliss@liverpool.ac.uk.

Keywords: EDIW.