BayernMentoring Professional

Everyone benefits from the mentoring projects: female students, mentors and the companies too!

Benefits for female mentors:

• Keeping one’s specialist knowledge up to date through close contact with the university
• Reflecting on one’s own leadership potential
• Participation in high-quality seminars such as personality development courses, potential assessments, style consultations and much more
• Integration into an existing network of working female experts
• Social commitment documented by a certificate of completion

Benefits for mentees (female students):

• Development of personality and social skills, as well as building self-confidence
• Support with difficulties relating to your studies, internships or starting your career
• A qualified and impartial assessment of one’s own situation by the mentor
• Support with career planning
• Participation in seminars and workshops
• Access to networks

Benefits for businesses:

An excellent recruitment tool for committed interns, final-year students, students working part-time whilst studying, or potential employees.

Stage 1 of the BayernMentoring programme at the respective universities is designed to last one year. The individual meetings between mentors and mentees are interspersed with joint events for all participating pairs.

1. Kick-off event = official start

This marks the start of the mentoring programme. Here, the mentors and student mentees get to know one another. They are given an introduction to the project, guidance on the roles of mentor and mentee, and plenty of important information about how the project will run.

2. Seminars, workshops, regular get-togethers

During the official mentoring period, mentors and mentees are offered high-quality seminars and workshops – some held separately, others together. The programme includes communication training, personality analysis, conflict management, career advice on personal style and image, creative workshops and much more, all tailored to women in engineering professions. Mentors and mentees can network in a relaxed, conversational atmosphere at the regular get-togethers. They get to know other working women (who are usually in similar personal circumstances) and forge valuable contacts for their personal and professional lives. Participation in the workshops is voluntary.

3. Closing event = official end

To mark the end of the project, mentees and mentors will take stock of the project during a joint event. The event will involve reflecting on their individual progress and learning achievements, as well as sharing experiences with the other participants.

Deadlines and further details regarding the programme’s schedule can be obtained from the project coordinators.

Mentors spend an average of around 4 hours a month on the programme. Once the official programme has ended, mentees and mentors are free to continue their individual mentoring relationship on a private basis at any time.

"It was great to have a point of contact and to be able to seek advice on specific matters. In terms of my future career, I see the benefit in having been able to make contacts."
(Hannah, 4th semester, Mechanical Engineering)

"I see the networking opportunities and the chance to take part in great seminars as a real benefit. And I’ve received some brilliant advice, especially on my CV."
(Carolin, 4th semester, Mechanical Engineering)

"In my role as a professional mentor, I can see that there are significant synergies. I am able to pass on a great deal of knowledge – as demonstrated by the insightful questions my mentees ask."
(Angelika, professional mentor, Deutsche Bahn AG)

"As a mentor, you can support a student on her journey for a few months (or sometimes even for years, if the rapport is particularly good) and be on hand as a sounding board for both minor queries and major decisions."
(Barbara, Professional Mentor, EagleBurgmann GmbH & Co. KG)

"I would definitely recommend taking part! It’s not just an opportunity to give young women an insight into your own sector, but you also gain an insight into other sectors and what it’s like for women to work there."
(Laura, professional mentor, Tucher und Partner Projektmanagement GmbH)