By the end of the semester, students will have gained practical experience as well as theoretical insights of mentoring fellow students on a peer level.

Mandatory meetings in which organizational aspects are discussed, self-managed mentoring outside of the course, workshops, reflection sessions with guided discussions.

The course forms the organizational framework for the International Peer-Mentoring programme (https://www.aau.at/en/tutoring-and-mentoring/international-peer-mentoring/). Students of the course are paired up with international first-semester students of their own degree programme, whom they mentor and accompany throughout the beginning of their studies. Mentors share their experience with mentees and support them through answering their (study-related) questions. The mentoring itself takes place outside of the fixed course hours.The course provides mentors with relevant information they will need to support their mentees, familiarises them with their roles and responsibilities, gives them input on important aspects of mentoring, and the chance to reflect on their practice.It accompanies mentors through regular meet-ups in which important aspects of mentoring (such as the roles and tasks of mentors, recurring topics in mentoring, possible problems) are discussed and reflected. In addition, students of the course participate in several workshops throughout the course which further improve their skills as mentors.SESSIONS:Semester Kick-off (01.03.2024, online): Mentors are introduced to their tasks and roles. Organizational matters are discussed.Mentor Meeting (12.04.2024): Discussion, reflection and feedback of students' mentoring practice.Mentor Meeting II (10.05.2024, online): Open office hour during which students discuss their mentoring practice with the lecturer in a 1:1 setting. Workshop I - Intercultural Communication (24.05.2024): This workshop provides students with enhanced cultural sensitivity and (self-)awareness and practical tools to develop positive intercultural relationships, specifically on a peer-level. Students should sign up for one of the two given time slots. Workshop II - Emotional First Aid (31.05.2024): In this workshop, students are introduced to physical and percpetual exercises to counter stress and challenging situations. Semester closing (14.06.2024): Final reflection and evaluation of the semester.

Having studied at the University of Klagenfurt for at least one semesterBeing an outgoing person who wants to take on social responsibility and support new studentsGood command of the English languageReadiness to further develop interpersonal skills

Regular participation in meetings, handing in written assignments on time.

All of the following four components have to be completed in order to pass the course:Active mentoring of students outside of the hours of the course.Participation in shared sessions and workshops.Handing in small reports throughout the semester, detailing what you did as a mentor and what you learned.Handing in an overall semester reflection which sums up your practice as a mentor (~ 1000 words). Alternative to the reflection paper, students can work on a priorly agreed-upon assignment, such as writing a guide for new students.

Will be graded as “participated with success” if all four components (see above) are completed.