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Mentoring Programme

Empowering students through guidance, growth, and shared experience.

What?

Mentoring is a collaborative learning relationship that allows students to benefit from the skills, knowledge, and professional experience of a mentor. Through conversations, experience-sharing, and reflective guidance, mentors help students gain perspective on their ambitions, challenges, and career direction.

The programme is built around personalised and flexible interactions between mentor and mentee. It creates space for informed exploration—helping students understand the working world and approach the job market with confidence.

The mentoring programme has been running successfully since the 2023/2024 academic year.


Who?

The mentoring programme is designed for students in the Master in Transnational Governance. In collaboration with the Policy Leader Fellowship (PLF) team, MTNG Career Services matches each student with an affiliated Fellow (PLF, Visiting, Senior, or Max Weber) at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, based on academic background, professional interests, and future aspirations. This tailored pairing ensures meaningful exchanges that support each student’s unique development path.

The mentee must play an active role in shaping the mentoring experience by:

  • Communicating openly about goals, challenges, and progress 
  • Asking questions to deepen understanding 
  • Sharing career interests and background so the mentor can tailor guidance
  • Acting on advice and feedback 
  • Remaining open to diverse viewpoints 
  • Welcoming support and encouragement 
  • Contributing personal reflections to enrich the conversation 
  • Taking ownership of the relationship and its evolution 
  • Seeking feedback and using it for growth

Responsibilities of the Mentee:

  • Drive the relationship proactively 
  • Prepare an agenda for each meeting 
  • Reflect on discussions to gain deeper insight 
  • Apply learnings to academic and career decisions 
  • Build rapport and engage constructively

Where?

Mentoring sessions take place in flexible formats—online or in person—depending on availability and geographic location.

When?

The mentoring cycle begins at the start of the students’ second year of the master’s programme, and it is recommended that students meet with their mentors at least once per month.

Why?

The mentoring programme aims to support students in unlocking their potential by offering:

  • Supportive development
  • Career and skill awareness
  • A holistic perspective
  • A sustained relationship
  • Flexible, informal support
  • Experience-based guidance
  • A mentee-driven dynamic


How?

The mentoring process includes the following elements:

  1. Express interest in participating by completing the required information regarding interests, aspirations, and career paths.
  2. Once pairs are confirmed, mentees should contact their matched mentors within seven business days to schedule the first meeting.
  3. Meet at least once per month for a minimum of one hour, in a format, place, and at a time mutually agreed upon.
  4. Mentees are responsible for reaching out to their mentors to schedule meetings.
  5. Set goals at the beginning of the programme and work collaboratively toward them throughout the mentoring cycle.

Testimonials

  • Portrait picture of Asya Pelkes

    Asya Pelkes

    MTNG Alumna

“Being mentored by Gilbert was both grounding and inspiring. Our exchanges helped me navigate academic and career choices with greater confidence, while reminding me of the value of guidance rooted in empathy and curiosity.”

  • Portrait picture of Florian Hoppe

    Florian Hoppe

    MTNG Alumnus

“My mentor helped me to clarify which aspects of my research interest me the most and how my research can take part in the response to current real-world problems. This was highly beneficial for my master thesis and gave me the final motivational boost I needed. Professionally, the mentorship helped me to clarify which difference I want to make in the world and which steps to take into that direction.”

Contacts

For any further inquiries regarding the mentoring programme, please feel free to contact us.

Page last updated on 16/01/2026