Thank you for your interest in AdvanceMent Freiburg. We are delighted that you want to get involved in the programme for our doctoral candidates and postdocs. On this page you will find all relevant information for mentors. For more information about the programme and your role as a mentor, please also see our guidelines.
What is my role as a mentor? Am I suitable for this task?
As a mentor at AdvanceMent Freiburg, you will support the next generation of postdocs and doctoral candidates at the University of Freiburg: you will help them develop their individual career strategies in personal discussions, give them feedback and introduce them to the structures and rules of your field of work. You are suitable for this task if you are generally willing to pass on your experience and knowledge of the structures, strategies and informal rules of your field of work and to advise and support the mentees. As a mentor, you will share your own successes and failures as well as your expertise with the mentees. Enjoyment of and interest in echange with the next generation is an important prerequisite.
You as a mentor
As a mentor, you can take on various roles in the mentoring process and support your mentee in a variety of ways, depending on the objective of the mentoring echange: You can advise and impart knowledge, provide information about career profiles, allow your mentee to participate in your day-to-day work in a practical way in the form of shadowing or internships, accompany your mentee to networking events or conferences, provide feedback and act as a role model. You decide exactly what you can and want to offer based on the mutually agreed mentoring objectives. It is important that you fulfil your role for a limited period of time only and that the mentee is not dependent on you. Openness, confidentiality, empathy and proactive counselling are the cornerstones of the mentoring relationship in order to optimally promote the development of the mentee.
How do I become a mentor?
Since AdvanceMent Freiburg is open to all faculties and all career profiles, the programme does not work with an existing mentor pool. However, if you are interested in becoming a mentor, you can contact us at any time.
The mentees of each programme round select potential mentors who could support and accompany them in planning their next career steps. During the matching phase, the programme management makes initial contact with these individuals and clarifies all questions about the programme and the mentoring partnership with them. If the requested persons show interest in becoming involved in the programme, an initial meeting takes place with the mentee. Here, the nature of the collaboration as well as possible topics and goals of the one-on-one mentoring are discussed. If mutual expectations and interpersonal chemistry suit, the mentee and mentor sign a mentoring agreement to establish the binding framework conditions for the mentoring.
Who are the mentees?
The programme is aimed at early postdoctoral researchers and advanced doctoral candidates from all faculties of the University of Freiburg. The mentees participate in the mentoring programme in order to be accompanied and supported in a structured way in the planning and implementation of the next career step in academia or in business and society. Mentoring takes place outside of dependent relationships, involves no authority to issue directives, and is a voluntary exchange between two people with different levels of experience. The goal is to exchange ideas on an equal footing.
What can I expect as a mentor?
While the mentees go through a fixed workshop and support programme, you as a mentor are mainly involved in one-on-one mentoring. We have compiled guidelines and a collection of materials to help you prepare and structure the mentoring discussions.
At the same time, the mentees are called upon to be active themselves: They prepare the mentoring echanges, set topics on which they would like to receive suggestions or feedback, and go about implementing the defined tasks and goals.
As a mentor, you will receive a mentoring certificate at the end of the programme in recognition of your outstanding commitment.
The programme management is always available to answer your questions and concerns.
What is the benefit for mentors?
As a mentor with AdvanceMent Freiburg, you contribute your valuable time and experience to the mentees. Your commitment to AdvanceMent also offers you personal advantages and opportunities:
What happens if there are issues?
If you notice a problem in your mentoring relationship, address it with your mentee. Explain what you are dissatisfied with and give your mentee an indication of what you would like to see instead. If the problem cannot be solved within the mentoring partnership, the programme management of AdvanceMent Freiburg is available to advise you at any time.
Contact: