An annually recurring mentoring programme helps international students get to know Finnish working life and build their networks. Mentors are working life professionals from several different fields in Eastern Finland.
Mentoring is carried out in small groups, which guarantees the opportunity to participate for as many international students as possible.The mentoring language will be mainly English.
Get help with your career planning
Mentoring can help you find your strengths and areas for development and encourage you to take on new challenges. Also, the mentors can get new energy and fresh perspectives on their work through mentees aka actors.
By taking part in the mentoring programme, you will improve your skills in
- job search and getting to know different career options and paths
- developing professional expertise and finding your strengths
- communication and interaction with others
- building professional networks
- developing self-confidence and self-knowledge
In addition to the mentor’s support, mentoring gives peer support and new views on topics discussed in the group.
What we expect from you
As an actor, we expect you to
- commit to the mentoring programme and group meetings
- take an active role in the group
- share your expectations and goals with other participants
- to understand that mentoring is about sharing working life experiences and spurring you in the first steps of your career, not getting a job offer or an internship from a mentor
How to apply
Application for the spring 2025 group mentoring programme will open in autumn 2024. International degree programme students in Eastern Finland are eligible to apply.
You can apply if you are ready to actively plan your future and share your career aims in a group. In addition, you commit to taking part in mentoring meetings from January to May approximately once a month.
The mentors leading the groups are professionals from different fields and diverse backgrounds. You will be placed in a mentoring group according to the following criteria:
- Your preference of the mentor
- Your commitment and motivation to the programme
- Registration order
In the application form, we will ask for your personal and study information, your motives for participating and your expectations for mentoring. The information you provide is very important as it will be used in group formation. Some of the answers will also be sent to your mentor.
The schedule of the programme is annually as follows:
- Online mentoring training for actors in December
- Online kick-off meeting in January
- 4 to 6 mentoring meetings with your group. The group will agree on whether the meetings will be held face-to-face or online.
- Online intermediate meeting for both mentors and actors in March
- Final meeting in May
Further information:
minna.tarvainen@savonia.fi (Savonia students),
marko.pietila@uef.fi (UEF students)