Womentoring is an interdisciplinary mentoring programme by and for TINFA-students (Trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, genderfluid people and women) at the University of Bern. It is aimed at all TINFA-students at the University of Bern in their Master's studies who are considering an academic career. Mentors can be TINA- assistant professors, lecturers or doctoral students in the same or a related field of study.
The academic world is at a turning point – we need diversity-sensitive and inclusive research. To meet new challenges, the SUB Mentoring Program requires restructuring.
For many years, the Womentoring program has supported master’s students on their path to an academic career – by and for FINTA* individuals.
Yet, not all students at UniBE have the same opportunities for an academic career. The new SUB Mentoring Program aims to be open to all genders and strengthen future PhD students' awareness of diversity in their research. With this new mentoring program, SUB seeks to actively combat structural racism and gender inequality.
In collaboration with the «Better Science» initiative, we raise awareness of the issues within an accelerated and competitive academic system. Sustainability, diversity, and a respectful work environment are not only the foundation for excellence but also for a healthy academic community.
With the support of the University of Bern's “Office for Equal Opportunities”, the next generation of researchers will be empowered to actively and responsibly shape the future of research and sustainably transform the structures at the University of Bern by dismantling discriminatory barriers.
It is essential to address structural discrimination at the University of Bern through the mentoring program. The goal is to actively support and guide students who face disadvantages due to classism, racism, sexism, and transphobia, while working to remove structural barriers. Mentors will be trained in racism and equality issues to better support their mentees.
Instead of training FINTA* individuals to fit into a patriarchal world, cis men and FINTA* individuals will learn and reflect together, through targeted workshops – both in gender-homogeneous and mixed groups – on how to create inclusive and just structures in academia.
To understand what students need today to pursue an academic career and ensure the new mentoring program can respond to the needs of the student body from the start, workshops will be held:
Workshop with student
07 March 2025, 10:00 – 12:30 am
In the first workshop, key questions will be discussed with students, including:
What do you feel is missing at the University of Bern? What is your experience with mentoring programs? What aspects of the Wo*mentoring program should be improved?
Workshop with Alumni & PhDs
02 April 2025, 15:15 – 17:45 pm
Workshop with MVUB
12 May 2025, 14:15 – 16.45 pm
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Sign up for a workshop here!
The workshops will take place at the Ideas Lab, University of Bern:VonRoll A002, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern
Are you dealing with the question of what to do after graduation? Are you interested in scientific research and could you imagine an academic career? Are you thinking about writing a dissertation and want to learn more about it?
... then sign up for Womentoring now!
Womentoring is an interdisciplinary mentoring program for female students at the University of Bern and offers you the opportunity to deal specifically with these and other questions. The program is aimed at female students in the Master's program from all faculties.
As a participating student, you will be supported and advised by an assistant or doctoral candidate from the same or a similar department for two semesters (HS 23 and FS 24) on questions regarding studies, academic careers and career planning. At the core of the program are regular individual meetings with your mentor.
In addition, Womentoring offers you an attractive supporting program. Through discussion rounds, workshops and meals together, you will receive important impulses for your further career as well as the opportunity to make new contacts.
Have we piqued your interest? Then apply by June 21, 2023. Would you like to learn more before you apply? Then come to the information event on May 11 at 5 p.m.
The programme, which is specifically aimed at TINFA-students, was launched on the initiative of female students from Bern and Fribourg who were involved in the Commission for Equality (CodEg) of the VSS (Verband der Schweizerischer Studierendenschaften/Swiss Student Union). Thanks to the federal programme Equal Opportunities and Diversity and the cooperation of four different organisations (SUB, VSS, AfG, SAJV), Womentoring, the first mentoring programme in Switzerland targeting female students, was realised in 2002.
In autumn 2021, the twelfth round of Womentoring 23/24 will start with a kick-off event that will allow all mentoring duos to get to know each other. In the autumn and spring semesters, various workshops on career planning and coaching will take place in cooperation with the Bern University Counselling Centre, various networking meetings will be offered, and different experts will be invited to report on their experiences with academic careers. However, the heart of the mentoring is the individual meetings and discussions of the mentoring duos.
Project coordination
Tanisha Pandey
Student Body of the University of Bern (SUB)Lerchenweg 32CH-3012 Bern
Project management
Ainhoa Martinelli
ginia.martinelli@unibe.ch
Student Body of the University of Bern (SUB)
SUB board member: Department of gender equality and human resources
Lerchenweg 32
CH-3012 Bern
Mentees are TINFA-students in their Master's studies from all faculties who are considering pursuing an academic career.
Womentoring offers mentees
Womentoring expects the mentees to
Mentors are assistants, doctoral students or lecturers at the University of Bern who allow a student to benefit from their experience and contacts and accompany her in her professional and academic career.
Womentoring offers mentors
Womentoring expects the mentors to
Here you can find application forms, more information on Womentoring, and reports on the programme.