Paderborn University
University
Mentoring / coaching
Professional training
Networking
Students
No explicit subject
The peer mentoring programme "Einblick!" at the University of Paderborn gives female students who are about to complete their studies and are interested in doing a doctorate the opportunity, over a period of five months, to meet other women in the same situation to talk about becoming a doctoral researcher and prepare for moving to this level. They are mentored by a female doctoral researcher who provides information about support for early career researchers and shares tips and strategies from her own experience. The peer mentoring programme is structured as follows:
1. Small group meetings with female doctoral researcher as mentor:
Groups of four to six students meet on a regular basis to discuss topics agreed at the start of the programme with their mentor. The group members themselves decide how frequent the meetings should be and what format they take.
2. Opportunity to meet women in research, industry and public life who have received their doctorates:
During the programme, students have regular opportunities to meet women with doctoral degrees and learn about their individual career paths and areas of work in the form of panel discussions on specific issues or smaller group meetings.
3. Workshops:
The peer mentoring programme begins with a 1.5-day workshop in which participants can get to know each other, laying the foundations for working together in small groups. In addition to this foundation workshop, which gives participants an important opportunity for reflection, they are made aware of offerings of other universities and a short workshop on choosing a topic is also organised in partnership with the academic writing support unit (Kompetenzzentrum Schreiben).
4. Framework programme:
The framework programme, which includes a kick-off event and final event, supports the participants' development during the peer mentoring programme and encourages communication within the entire group. At the final event the mentees' personal decisions are discussed and strategies are developed as to how the network and/or contact with the university can be maintained.
Bielefeld University
BLICKPUNKTE (Viewpoints)