ExploreScience

Mentoring program for doctoral researchers of all dicsiplines.

Within the ExploreScience program, we have developed two new formats for you: Group Mentoring and Peer Mentoring. These are complemented by an extensive qualification program and our consulting services. We invite you to acquaint yourself more closely with our wide-ranging activities and use the opportunity to expand your networks across all disciplines, generations and institutions within the fields of science, industry and society.

 

Peer Mentoring

Registration for the ExploreScience Peer-Mentoring Program 2023 is open now. We are pleased to announce that we will be offering four rounds of peer-mentoring this year. The next information sessions will be held on April 03, 2023, 3-5 pm and September 26, 2023 in English. 
Participation in information events is recommended and serves for getting acquainted with the peer-mentoring method "Peer-Group Supervision". In case you are not able to attend the event, please feel free to arrange an individual appointment with our mentoring team. 
Regarding the dates for the "Peer-Group Supervision" workshops, which are the starting points for each mentoring-round, please refer to the section "Dates and Registration" below.

The approach of peer mentoring is based on the principles of self-organization, own responsibility and the need for individual commitment. The participants on the same qualification level support each other - without a mentor - with their own competencies and individual experiences. The groups work using the method "Peer-Group Supervision", which will be trained in advance.  


To take part in the ExploreScience Peer-Mentoring Program, we ask the participants to pay a one-time participation fee of 20,00 Euro. This fee helps us to offer catering at the networking events within our mentoring programs.

The mentees support and advise each other - using the Peer-Group Supervision method instead of 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 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.  

It is used as an effective personnel development tool in companies, organizations and universities at various hierarchical levels. 

At the beginning, the participants will be given 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 group 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.

Information Session (germen) - virtual 

February 14, 2023, 3 - 5 pm

Registration

Information Session (english) - virtual 

April 3, 2023, 3 - 5 pm

Registration

Information Session (english) - virtual 

September 26, 2023, 3-5 pm

Registration

Peer-Group 2023/1 (german) 

1. Workshop "Peer-Group Supervision" (Internationales Begegnungszentrum der Universität Stuttgart „Eulenhof“, Robert-Leicht-Straße 161, 70569 Stuttgart)

March 13, 2023, 9 am - 4.30 pm

Registration

2. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized
3. Refresher Training (face-to-face) September 18, 2023, 11 am - 3.30 pm
4. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized, for 1 to 3 years

Peer-Group 2023/2 (english) 

1. Workshop "Peer-Group Supervision" (Internationales Begegnungszentrum der Universität Stuttgart „Eulenhof“, Robert-Leicht-Straße 161, 70569 Stuttgart)

April 28, 2023, 9 am - 4.30 pm 

Registration

2. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized
3. Refresher Training October 11, 2023, 11 am - 3.30 pm
4. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized, for 1 to 3 years

Peer-Group 2023/3 (german)

1. Workshop "Peer-Group Supervision" (Internationales Begegnungszentrum der Universität Stuttgart „Eulenhof“, Robert-Leicht-Straße 161, 70569 Stuttgart)

September 28, 2023, 9.am - 5 pm 

Registration

2. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized
3. Refresher Training March, 2024 
4. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized, for 1 to 3 years

Peer-Group 2023/4 (english) 

1. Workshop "Peer-Group Supervision" (Internationales Begegnungszentrum der Universität Stuttgart „Eulenhof“, Robert-Leicht-Straße 161, 70569 Stuttgart)

October 20, 2023, 9 am - 4.30 pm

Registration

2. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized
3. Refresher Training April, 2024 
4. Meeting Mentoring Peer-Group regularly, self-organized, for 1 to 3 years

Trainers: 
Dr. Jana Leipold, Head of Department PE1 - Leadership, Personnel Selection and Retention at the University of Mainz, systemic coach and consultant for managers.
Ekaterina Deckers, Coordinator of the Mentoring Programs at GRADUS

Group Mentoring

The application for the next group mentoring is open. The application deadline is March 3, 2023.

What is special about the group mentoring? It enables valuable exchange and networking with an experienced mentor on the one hand and with your own peers on the other.

In the group mentoring, a small group of 6 to 8 mentees is formed on the basis of a chosen career path (science, busines or society) with focus on special topics (e.g. career strategies, reconciliation of family and career), and supervised by one mentor from this field. Mentees and mentor*in meet in regular structured working meetings and exchange views on professional, career and everyday life-related issues. The mentoring takes place only within the groupmeetings. The duration of the program is 6 months.

All doctoral researchers at the University of Stuttgart are invited to participate. In case of great interest, doctoral researchers in the second half of their doctorate will be given preference. The number of participants is limited.

  • Exchanging experience with peers and a mentor from science, business or society.
  • Joint reflection, discussion, and mutual support on relevant professional, career, and everyday issues in a trusting, appreciative, and noncompetitive setting.
  • Building up and widen your network.

At the beginning, the group defines the goals, topics, process, and rules of cooperation together with the mentor and agrees on fixed dates and how to meet (virtually or in presence). The meetings take place at least once a month in a self-organized manner and are moderated by the group. The group mentoring starts with a kick-off event and ends with a closing event.

Step 1: When registering, the mentee indicates the desired career path: 1) science, 2) business, or 3) society.

Step 2: Groups are formed according to the career paths. We conduct a group interview with each group to define main topics and clarify open questions.

Step 3: Based on the main topics, GRADUS will form the final group and assign a mentor.

All dates are subject to change.

Call for applications  December 2022

Information event 

January, 31, 2023, 2-3 pm (german) => Registration

February, 2, 2023, 2-3 pm (english) => Registration

Decision-making-wokshop 

February, 10, or 17, 2023, 9:30 am – 1 pm (in German)

In case you are interested, we kindly ask you to register preferably for 17.02.2023. Registration portal will be opened from 02.02.2023. Quick registration is recommended. => For more information click here

Deadline for application February, 24, 2023
Group interview

March,15 2023, time tbc

Kick-Off event  May 2023 
Regular group meetings mentees  and mentor – online or live

Once a month with approx. 2h duration, independently organized and led by the group itself together with the mentor, dates have to be fixed in the beginning

Closing event  December 2023

A general willingness to act as a mentor in the future is required. Interested persons apply with their CV, a short letter of motivation and the completed profile form. Please use the provided templates.

This image shows Ekaterina Deckers

Ekaterina Deckers

 

Coordinator Mentoring Programs

To the top of the page