ExploreScience Peer Mentoring

The mentees support and advise each other without a mentor. This means that mentees with the same level of qualification meet and exchange ideas in small groups of around 5 to 7 participants using the Peer-Group Supervision method. These regular meetings are typically well-structured and self-organized and address professional, career and daily issues. At the beginning, the participants are given Peer-Group Supervision training by an external trainer, 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 a group member is consulted by the other members according to a fixed/set process and 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. 

At the beginning, 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:

1. Information session: interested persons receive an overview 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.
2. Training on "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 in the training. After the event, the peers are able to meet and advice independently in these groups. From this point on, each group coordinates its own meetings and defines the framework of it (type, time, dates, etc.).
3. Refresher Training: After about half a year, all groups meet again to reflect and discuss experiences and find solutions for possible challenges in the groups.

If necessary, the individual groups can take advantage of team coaching.