“I am very excited to be part of this initiative and I am looking forward to learning and growing trough it,” said an international student of the Master's in Electrical and Microsystems Engineering, who was very happy to be accepted as a mentee. The programme launched officially with the kick-off event on November 21st. “We are delighted that so many of you came. Our special thanks go to this year's mentors for their great commitment!” said Miriam Kerl, Equal Opportunities and Diversity Officer at OTH Regensburg, welcoming the participants. After a brief introduction and general information about the programme, the tandems finally met in person and had the opportunity to exchange ideas and set initial goals for their mentoring relationship over a small snack.
The “professional steps” mentoring programme is aimed at all students in STEM courses. Students are supported by a experienced professional from their field as a mentor over the course of two semesters. The aim is to support students in their personal development. The programme gives students the opportunity to gain an insight into practice in order to better master the transition from studying to working life. The core element is the individual, self-organised tandem relationship between mentor and mentee. The matching, i.e. the formation of the tandems, is carried out by the project coordinators. In addition, cross-programme networking events such as company excursions and career talks are offered throughout the year.
In addition to the general “professional steps” programme track, this year OTH Regensburg has introduced two more tracks for specific target groups. As part of the “BayernMentoring”, a state-wide programme for the promotion of women in STEM, and offering its own networking events, “professional steps – women x women” is intended to create a space in which the women in the programme can exchange ideas and discuss specific questions and topics among peers. English-speaking tandems were formed in the “professional steps - international” programme. The networking events are also offered in English and are intended to provide students with targeted support for integrating into the German job market.
The programme is coordinated by Katja Eckhardt from the International Office, responsible for the “professional steps - international” programme track, Miriam Kerl from the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Service Office, responsible for the “professional steps - women x women” programme track, and Katja Meier from the Student Lifecycle Center, responsible for the “professional steps” programme track.
At the beginning of December, a joint visit to the bowling alley offers all participants the next opportunity to get to know each other better in an informal setting, to exchange ideas beyond the personal tandem and to expand their own network.
