BreakING

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Today, women are still underrepresented in engineering - a situation that is challenging for many female career starters despite their very good qualifications. There is usually a lack of opportunities to exchange ideas with other female engineers and to learn and benefit from the experiences of others. With "Breaking the Glass Ceiling - early installation of professional networks for female engineers", the Faculty is launching a mentoring program that will enable female students at the Faculty to engage in this necessary exchange at an early stage and help prospective female engineers to be better prepared for starting their careers in the form of a structured, integral program.

What is mentoring?

The participants of the program (mentees) are accompanied by experienced female professionals in higher positions and alumnae, the mentors, for about 9 months. Topics that concern them and/or that they would like to work on can be discussed openly. At the same time, the mentees have the opportunity to network with each other and exchange ideas on an equal footing with regard to their professional development (peer mentoring).

In addition, the BreakING team organizes fireside evenings for the participants, during which they can get to know female managers from professional practice, especially from typical "male industries". Experts help the female students in coaching sessions to promote their personal development in specific areas and provide support. The diagram provides a compact overview of the program:

How do I become a Mentee?

You are a student of a master's program (BI, UI, CE and SE) at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
You have at least two semesters left to complete your master's degree
For interested female bachelor students of the above-mentioned study programs, participation in BreakING is also possible by arrangement
You are willing to participate in the events regularly and to get involved personally

If you are interested in participating in the mentoring program, we only need the following information from you by June 30, 2024 to breaking-bi@rub.de (please use your RUB address):

Your full name
Course of study
Number of semesters
2-3 sentences in which you answer the question "Why do I want to participate in a mentoring program?"

SHORT APPLICATION BY E-MAIL

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the project team at breaking-bi@rub.de.

More info

Why BreakING pays off

"I would participate again at any time. The team organised meetings with a mixture of reports on experiences, motivational coaching to individual counselling during the group meetings with a mentor. I leave this programme with a bag filled to the brim with educational experiences, a view of new professional opportunities, the ability to think outside the box and with one or two professional tips at my fingertips. These help me to face the challenges of a male-dominated industry with confidence."

Maja Mendera, mentee

"Being able to share is an important and very useful quality, not only for chocolate cake. At BreakING, this arrow points in both directions: Mentors and mentees benefit from each other's questions and answers. As a mentor, I recommend open-heartedly, give tips, formulate demands, also question things sometimes and give encouragement. And I am surprised, challenged, asked, and also mirrored by the mentees. We search and learn together, which is great."

Bettina Hellenkamp, mentor

News

Profile analysis & career planning

For the third time, BreakING offered a two-day coaching session in collaboration with Heike Schubert from COMSENSE. The mentees were able to work specifically on reflecting on and improving their individual profile and received support in drawing up a personal action plan for their professional development.

The first meeting: Kick-Off 2024

With a successful kick-off event, the mentoring programme for female Master's students BreakING at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering entered its third round on 10 October 2024. Here you can read more.

Introductory workshop 2024

On 30.09.2024, the BreakING team invited the new mentees to the start of the next round of the mentoring programme. During the introductory workshop, the mentees got to know each other better and exchanged views on expectations and wishes within the framework of BreakING. We are looking forward to the time ahead!

Closing event

On 1st July 2024, the second round of the mentoring programme "BreakING" came to an end. This time, the mentees took the lead and organised a closing evening including a homemade buffet and small progamme.

Coaching: Networking & Visibility

How do I perceive myself and am I seen by others? When do I succeed in building relationships? How do I feel about "networking" in general? The BreakING mentees asked themselves these and other questions during the two-day coaching session with Heike Schubert (comsense - coaching & training) on the topic of "Networking & Visibility".

New impulses: Fireside evening

On 25 January 2024, mentees, mentors and other guests met for the BreakING fireside evening in the bentonite laboratory of the Chair of Tunnelling, Pipeline Construction and Construction Management, during which geotechnical engineer Dr Petra Drucker (CDM Smith, Munich) offered personal insights into her successful career path.

With the Lore Agnes projects, the RUB Rectorate has been funding innovative equality measures at RUB every year since 2015. BreakING is also funded under the Lore Agnes program and is pleased to receive the support.