The concept of peer mentoring is based on the principles of self-organization, personal responsibility and the need for personal commitment. In a peer mentoring group, participants on the same qualification level support each other - without a mentor - using their own competencies and individual experiences. The groups work with the help of the method "Peer Group Supervision" ("Kollegiale Beratung" in German), which they learn and practice in advance in a workshop.
To take part in the ExploreScience Peer Mentoring Program, we ask participants to pay a one-time participation fee of 20.00 Euros. This fee helps us finance the catering for our workshops and for our mentoring networking events.
In peer mentoring, mentees with the same level of qualification support and advise each other without a mentor – they meet regularly and exchange ideas in small groups of around 5 to 7 participants using the method Peer-Group Supervision. These meetings are typically well-structured and self-organized and address professional, career and everyday issues. At the beginning, the participants are given Peer-Group Supervision training, with a refresher training course a few months later. The program is scheduled for 1 to 3 years, depending on the needs of each peer mentoring group.
Peer-Group Supervision is a structured consultation session in a group, in which one group member consults the other members according to a pre-structured, fixed process with assigned roles. It provides space for reflection and development. The aim is to come up with solutions to a specific key question.
The method is used as an effective personnel development tool in companies, organizations and universities at various hierarchical levels.
In the beginning of the program, the participants will receive Peer-Group Supervision training.
According the motto "Share experience, secure success, broaden perspectives", you reflect on relevant professional, career and everyday issues with your peer group in a trusting, appreciative and non-competitive setting. This enables you to develop individual solutions to upcoming concerns, share your experiences, sharpen your problem-solving skills, and expand your network.
Peer mentoring at GRADUS is structured in three stages:
- Information session: interested doctoral researchers receive an overview of the program and of the Peer-Group Supervision method, so that they can then decide whether they would like to explore this topic further and become a member of a peer mentoring group.
- Workshop: Training in "Peer-Group Supervision" (full day): The participants learn how to use the method theoretically and practically by using it directly in peer mentoring groups that are formed during the training. After the event, the peers are able to meet and advise each other independently in these groups. From this point on, each group coordinates its own meetings and defines their framework (type of meeting, time, dates, etc.).
- Refresher Workshop: After about half a year, all groups meet again to reflect and discuss experiences and, if applicable, find solutions for possible challenges faced by the groups.
If necessary, the individual groups can make use of team coaching.
Upcoming Events
Information sessions
Here, you can find details on the next information sessions about peer mentoring and register for them:
Contact
Ekaterina Deckers
Coordinator Mentoring Programs
Nina Gillé
Assistant Mentoring Programs