Mentorship Program Closing Event - Mentorship in Action: Developing the Next Generation of Policy Thinkers

REGISTER

The Policy Center for the New South and the Youth Policy Center are organizing the closing event of the first edition of the Mentorship Program, under the theme “Mentorship in Action: Developing the Next Generation of Policy Thinkers.”

Designed to strengthen the link between academic research and policy-oriented analysis, the Mentorship Program supported six selected young researchers in developing policy briefs across a range of strategic policy areas, from energy, geopolitics, and international cooperation to economics, inclusion, and labor market. Each participant was paired with a PCNS Senior Fellow and a PCNS Expert, benefiting from several months of guidance, methodological support, and research-oriented exchange.

The program culminated in the production of six policy briefs, which will be published on the Youth Policy Center platform. The closing event will provide an opportunity to present the work developed by the first cohort and to highlight the role of mentorship in supporting emerging researchers as they refine their analytical skills, policy thinking, and ability to communicate research-based recommendations.

The event will also feature a panel discussion with PCNS Senior Fellows on mentorship as a lever for knowledge transmission, leadership development, and the preparation of the next generation of policy thinkers. Drawing on their own professional and research trajectories, the panelists will reflect on the value of mentorship in shaping careers, strengthening institutions, and creating meaningful pathways for young talent in the policy field.

By bringing together mentees, mentors, researchers, practitioners, students, and participants interested in public policy, the event will offer a space for exchange on how mentorship can contribute to building stronger research and policy communities. It will also provide an opportunity for participants to discover the Policy Center for the New South's youth initiatives and learn more about the opportunities available to engage with its growing community of emerging leaders, researchers, and changemakers.