Established international mentoring program strengthens exchange and networking at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

The first international mentoring meeting took place at the start of the new semester. Students from the M.A. Roads to Democracies program, exchange students and Siegen students came together to share their experiences, goals and perspectives on starting their studies. In an open and relaxed atmosphere, the focus was on personal study priorities, academic orientation and the first time in Siegen. International students found the feedback from their experienced fellow students very helpful in starting their academic journey in Siegen and organizing the next few weeks.

At the final meeting in January, the international students reported on their first semester at the Schools, their satisfaction with courses and challenges in the German higher education system. Among other things, there was an exchange about cultural activities at the Schools and in the city of Siegen for the coming semester. Students from Siegen also took the opportunity to discuss opportunities to study abroad.

Overall, the exchange was very fruitful in terms of strengthening
lnternationalization@home and gaining insights into the satisfaction of international students. It was also a good preparation for the coming semester.

Voices from the program:

Mentor: "Being a mentor in the Erasmus program at the University of Siegen was an incredibly rewarding experience. It was great to support international students while also learning so much from their cultures and perspectives. The mentoring program at the University of Siegen creates a welcoming environment for Erasmus students. As a mentor, I truly enjoyed helping others settle in and feel at home in Siegen. Participating as a mentor in the Erasmus program was one of the highlights of my semester. It strengthened my intercultural skills and created meaningful connections that will last beyond university."

Mentee: "The mentorship helped me feel warmly welcomed into the new environment and gave me a clear glimpse of what to expect during my studies. The consistent support was very helpful in providing all the relevant information I needed. This enabled me to ease into my first semester and gave me confidence knowing that."