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Mentoring Programme

Fostering academic growth, professional development, and long-lasting connections

What? 

Fellows engage in a flexible mentoring relationship with their assigned student. These conversations help students navigate their evolving goals, gain insight into different professional paths, and develop confidence in approaching the next steps of their careers. Mentoring is an opportunity for Fellows to contribute to the growth of emerging leaders while reflecting on their own professional experiences.

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

Who?

The mentoring programme connects any Fellow (PLF/Visiting/Senior/MaxWeber) affiliated to the Florence School of Transnational Governance with second-year students of the Master in Transnational Governance. Fellows complement the students’ academic journey by offering perspective, guidance, and a supportive space to discuss professional aspirations and real-world challenges.

Mentors support the mentee’s development by:

  • Listening actively to understand needs and goals
  • Asking questions to stimulate reflection
  • Ensuring mutual understanding through clarification
  • Sharing knowledge of sectors, organisations, and informal networks
  • Offering perspective on professional growth
  • Encouraging reflection on strengths and areas for improvement
  • Broadening the mentee’s thinking with diverse viewpoints
  • Providing support, encouragement, and constructive feedback
  • Drawing on personal experience where relevant
  • Helping the mentee consider and organise career plans
  • Discussing strategies to overcome current challenges
  • Empowering the mentee to take responsibility for their development

As a Mentor, you also:

  • Share insights from your work and career journey
  • Offer practical tips on strategic job searching
  • Provide guidance on career-related decisions
  • Help build problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • Encourage reflection and acknowledge progress
  • Support the identification of areas for further development

Where?

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

When?

The mentoring period aligns with the second year of the MTNG master’s programme, with meetings scheduled at mutually convenient intervals.

Why?

One of the programme’s main objectives is to offer mentoring experience to mid-career professionals within our community.

For Fellows, mentoring is an opportunity to:

  • Contribute to the development of future leaders
  • Engage with diverse academic and professional perspectives
  • Reflect on their own career journeys
  • Build meaningful, lasting connections within the STG community

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.

Testimonial

  • Portrait picture of Gilbert Angana

    Gilbert Angana

    PLF Alumnus

“Mentoring Asya through a hybrid mentorship-coaching model at EUI was deeply enriching. Her commitment, focus, and scholarly excellence made our engagement impactful, enhancing my own professional growth, too.”

“The mentoring programme at STG provides an opportunity for professionals like me to share our experience with Masters students as they start to navigate the transition from postgraduate study to work. I found it satisfying to share the insights and learnings I have gained over the years, including things I would do differently. We discussed tangible things like networking and job interviews skills. Through thoughtful matching, the mentoring programme also provides an opportunity for cross-cultural learning.”


Contact information

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

Page last updated on 09/01/2026