In view of the shortage of skilled workers prevailing in many industries, greater labor force participation by women is required - but women still work part-time more often than men and occupy a low proportion of management positions in the economy. At the same time, the changed legal situation in maintenance law requires women to take more responsibility for securing their own livelihood. With the expansion of childcare places and the right to a daycare place, structures are being created that make it easier to reconcile work and family life. Nevertheless, the social framework conditions that allow for continuous employment histories are not yet in place in some cases.
Mentors from the business world introduce new role models
One problem here is role clichés and outdated role models that sow doubts about the compatibility of career and family, especially among young women. And young men also rarely take more than two months of parental leave. The role model in which family existence is jointly secured is still rather invisible in our region. This is where the BayernMentoring PROFI program at HNU comes in: Mentors from the business world show female students at Neu-Ulm University that other (life) models are also possible. They are role models for the HNU female students, accompany them during two semesters on their way and thus support their successful entry into the profession.
"It's a pleasure to be able to coach young women on their way."
The mentors also find the mentoring extremely meaningful. Stefanie Jordan, HR Director at Teva Pharmaceuticals, for example, explains that as a mentor she wants to give back something of what she herself has experienced as the strongest support for her own career path: ""I want to give back what I myself once received. That's why I'm a mentor in BayernMentoring PROFI, where I got to know my wonderful mentee Leonie during a process that lasted several months." Birgit Schmid, Head of Integrated Management System at the Wieland Group, has supported the BayernMentoring PROFI program as a mentor since its launch in 2006: "Every year it is a pleasure for me to coach young women on their way and to pass on my experience."
New mentors wanted
For female students, BayernMentoring PROFI begins each year in November and ends in June of the following year. For nine months - just under two semesters - they are required to take the initiative and arrange regular meetings with their mentor. A supporting program with start and end events, workshops and network meetings supports the exchange between mentee and mentor as well as the exchange within the group. All female students in their higher semesters at HNU have the opportunity to apply for the program. Experienced women who work as specialists and managers with a degree in companies in the region are welcome to apply as mentors. HNU is particularly looking for female mentors in the fields of information technology and health management, and the same applies to women with a degree in business administration. These are also sought as mentors. Interested women are welcome to contact the BayernMentoring coordinator, Magdalena Fremdling, at any time by e-mail: Magdalena.Fremdling@hnu.de.
About the activities of the HNU women's representative
BayernMentoring is a program based at the HNU Women's Representative Prof. Dr. Claudia Kocian-Dirr (opens in a new window). Promoting the digital participation of women is a central concern of the Women's Representative. Because we are convinced that enthusiasm for the digital transformation can be awakened through role models, we present achievable role models, promote personal and professional development, and create spaces for constructive exchange. Our activities address all academic target groups, from students to lecturers and research assistants to professors. Workshops for schoolgirls complement our measures to create the basis for equal-opportunity digital participation at an early stage.
