Mentoring Programme for International Students
The University of Turku Alumni and Career Services launch a pilot mentoring programme for international students during the academic year 2008-2009. The programme aims to assist international students in familiarising themselves with working in Finland and finding employment.
The Mentoring Programme for International Students offers the participating students the essential information on the Finnish labour market, the local work culture and methods of finding employment in Finland. The programme is primarily aimed at students who do not plan to pursue a university research career.
Students apply for the programme in May. The programme begins in September with a Working in Finland seminar offering an overview of the Finnish labour market as well as guidance on how to find work in Finland. Students will learn to formulate their CV and application letters as well as interview techniques. The students will meet their mentors in October and begin working with them independently.
Please note that participation in the Mentoring Programme does not automatically entail a job.
Students accepted to the programme must have
- motivation. Students participating in the mentoring programme must be interested in learning about the Finnish work culture and the recruitment processes in Finnish organisations.
- initiative. Students must be active and interested in personal development. The participating students must be active in using their knowledge, skills and contacts. Students should also be open-minded to new ideas.
- self-determination. The mentoring process is an independent learning process between the mentor and the student. Students should be able to set goals for themselves and be able to work with their mentor to achieve these goals. The participating students must be able to evaluate their own progress and learning as well as reassess their goals during the mentoring process.
- sufficient oral communication skills. The mentoring process consists essentially of conversations between the mentor and the student.
Selection criteria for students
- Students must be enrolled in one of the international master's degree programmes at the University of Turku.
- Eligible students must have completed 40 ects at the University of Turku and show that they have been successful in their studies.
- Students must aim to work in Finland after the completion of their studies.
- Students must be active in making contact with the local society.
- Students must be able to name specific professions or fields in which they would like to work in the future.
- The professional and personal interests of the selected students must be relevant to those of the mentors available for the programme.
- Students must be motivated in getting the most out of the programme. The mentors in the programme are alumni of the university who work in various fields of the society. They invest their own time into the programme and therefore it is essential that the participating students are also willing to devote time and effort into the mentoring process.
- Students must commit to the programme for the entire academic year 2008-2009.
Application procedure 2008
The application period for the International Mentoring Programme 2008 is 5-16 May 2008. Please note the changed date for the beginning of the application period. Students apply by filling in the application form that will be available at this website soon.
Selected applicants will receive an invitation to an interview on 19 May 2008 and the interview will take place on 20 May 2008. All applicants will be notified of the results of the selection by the end of May 2008.
The programme begins in September 2008 with the Working in Finland training.