Since 2021, mentors have been guiding international mentees in their first steps towards the German labour market through joint programmes offered by the Campus Academy, the Careers Service & Business Contacts (KUK) unit, and the International Office of the University of Bayreuth. So far, eight mentoring rounds have taken place, forming a total of 87 tandems. Around 70 experienced professionals from various fields have volunteered their time and expertise to support their mentees. “Our mentors come from all over Germany, and many are part of the University of Bayreuth alumni network,” says I-Hsin Stangl from the International Office, who initiated and coordinates the programme.
Application strategies, CV writing, networking, life planning – these are the topics mentors and mentees discuss over a period of four to six months. Meetings are arranged flexibly according to the needs of each tandem, whether via email, phone, video call, or in person. Mentors also benefit from the exchange: they expand their professional network, gain fresh perspectives, and develop an external view of the labour market and their own work.
To learn more about how the tandems work and what successes have been achieved, read the interview in the University of Bayreuth’s campus magazine and watch a video featuring personal insights from one of the mentors.
The first round of the mentoring programme took place in 2021 as part of the “PROFI in STEM” project funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). From 2024 onwards, the programme continued under the “BIGA Regio” project supported by the European Social Fund (ESF). Until now, the focus has been on STEM and digitalisation; this year, the programme was expanded to include “Planetary Health” and is once again funded by the DAAD under the “PROFI plus” programme. The next mentoring round, focusing on Planetary Health, will start in March 2026. Interested participants can register by 15 February at biac@uni-bayreuth.de.
