An annually recurring mentoring program helps international students and other talents get to know Finnish working life and build their networks. Mentors are individual professionals and also employer organisations from several different fields in Eastern Finland and other parts of Finland. Mentoring is carried out in small groups, which guarantees the opportunity to participate for as many international talents as possible. The mentoring language will be English.

Get help with your career planning

Mentoring can help you find your strengths and areas for development and encourage you to take on new challenges. Also, the mentors can get new energy and fresh perspectives on their work through students and other talents (actors).

By taking part in the mentoring program, you will improve your skills and knowledge in

• job search and getting to know different career options and paths
• getting to know interesting employer organisations
• developing professional expertise and finding your strengths
• communication and interaction with others
• building professional networks
• developing self-confidence and self-knowledge

In addition to the mentor’s support, mentoring gives peer support and new views on topics discussed in the group.

What we expect from you

As an actor, we expect you to

• commit to the mentoring program and group meetings
• take an active role in the group
• share your expectations and goals with other participants
• to understand that mentoring is about sharing working life experiences and spurring you in the first steps of your career, not getting a job offer or an internship from a mentor

How to apply

Application for the spring 2025 group mentoring program will open during 10.9. – 1.10.2024. International students and other talents affiliated in Eastern Finland are eligible to apply.

You can apply if you are ready to actively plan your future and share your career aims in a group. In addition, you commit to taking part in mentoring meetings from December to May approximately once a month.

The mentors leading the groups are professionals/employer organisations from different fields and diverse backgrounds. You will be placed in a mentoring group according to the following criteria:

1. Your preference of the mentor
2. Your commitment and motivation to the program
3. Registration order

In the application form, we will ask for your contact information, your motives for participating and your expectations for mentoring. The information you provide is very important as it will be used in group formation. Some of the answers will also be sent to your mentor.

The schedule of the program 2024 – 2025 is as follows:

• Online mentoring training for actors in November Tuesday 12^th at 14-16
• Face-to-face kick-off meeting in December Wednesday 4^th at 14-17 at University of Eastern Finland (AU112 Joensuu, CA305 Kuopio)
• 4 to 6 mentoring meetings with your group. The group will agree on whether the meetings will be held face-to-face or online.
• Online intermediate meeting for both mentors and actors in February Wednesday 26^th at 14-16
• Face-to-face closing session in May Wednesday 14^th at 14-17 at University of Eastern Finland (AU112 Joensuu, CA305 Kuopio)

A program certificate will be awarded for those participants completing the whole program.

You can see the mentor profiles here (pdf)
Please apply to the mentoring programme here

Further information:
marko.pietila@uef.fi (UEF students)
minna.tarvainen@savonia.fi (Savonia students)
sanna.jeskanen@karelia.fi (Karelia students)
laura.nykanen@koodsisu.fi (kood/Sisu students)
sanni.isotalo@pshyvinvointialue.fi (Employees of The North Savo wellbeing services)