Mentorship programme

The EYP Mentorship Programme is designed to pair EYPers moving into a new phase of academic or professional life with EYP Alumni who can offer career guidance and advice based on experience.

EYP Mentorship Programme 2026 Call for Applications
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Our aim with the EYP Mentorship Programme has been to harness the broad scope of skills and experiences in the EYP Alumni network and use it to offer support to the many EYP members who are transitioning into a new position or profession.

In this edition of the programme, we are also launching an exciting new initiative welcoming mentees who come from a refugee background as part of our #WithRefugees project, in partnership with IPSOS. These young people will be looking for advice and support in a broader way – a sort of buddy system – and we will be welcoming active EYPers to apply as ‘buddies’ as well as EYP Alumni.

For this reason, this year’s Mentorship Programme will feature two pillars: the Classic Mentorship pillar and the #WithRefugees support pillar.

Mentors and mentees in the Classic pillar would remain similar to previous editions:

  • Mentees will be EYPers who are finishing their third-level education and searching for a foothold in their chosen field or young alumni who hope to make a change from one line of work to another.
  • Mentors will be EYP Alumni, experienced in their field or profession, and willing to share knowledge and insight based on this.

In the #WithRefugees pillar, the partnership would be slightly different:

  • Mentees will be young people with a refugee background who are seeking advice and support, perhaps in their academic and professional lives, but also on getting by in a new place.
  • Mentors can fit the classic mould of experienced professionals, but could also be active EYPers with an interest in helping someone adjust to a new environment.

Mentees will be paired with Alumni who are suited to their mentorship goals. In both pillars, we would like to take into account the impact of experiences such as membership of a marginalised community on young professionals in the workplace.

What does it mean to be a Mentor/Mentee?

There are many mentoring programmes across the EYP network which focus on supporting mentees’ growth on their EYP journey. This is not one of those programmes. This programme is for supporting the academic or professional journeys of the mentees or for supporting young people with refugee backgrounds in their new lives. Here, we will clarify what it means to be a participant in the EYP Mentorship Programme.

What does it mean to be a Mentor?

Classic Mentorship 

A mentor is an EYP Alum. They will support an active EYPer or recent EYP Alum who is facing obstacles in their professional journey. The mentor will get an idea of the mentee’s challenges and offer advice which may help them to overcome these obstacles.

Mentors can:

  • Recommend specific hard skills to improve.
  • Share methods for facing challenges specific to the profession or field which the mentee is hoping to pursue.
  • Support Mentees in adapting to the challenges of professional life, discussing soft skills such as time management, networking and goal setting.

#WithRefugees Mentorship

A mentor is not necessarily an EYP Alum but could also be an active EYPer. They will support a young person with a refugee background who is facing obstacles in their personal or professional journey. The mentor will get an idea of the mentee’s challenges and offer advice which may help them to overcome these obstacles.

Mentors can:

  • Get an idea of what challenges the mentee is facing, in academic and professional life, or in adapting to a new environment.
  • Share methods for facing challenges specific to the profession or field which the mentee is hoping to pursue, if the mentee is focused on this side of the programme.
  • Support Mentees in adapting to the challenges of their new life, discussing social and cultural norms, and insights that could help them in their new home.

In this pillar, mentors do not need specific qualifications or accomplishments. Rather, they should be eager to share the experiences which they do have and listen to the needs of the mentees. They should look forward to connecting with and supporting their buddy.

Due to the nature of some of our young participants’ refugee background, they may have difficulty with seeking and receiving support in ways that other participants may not. Mentors will receive some guidance from the International Office before the official start of the mentorship programme, which will include focus on how to support young people in such a unique situation. Mentors will also be added to a WhatsApp Community, where they will be able to discuss their process and support each other.

What does it mean to be a Mentee?

Classic Mentorship 

A mentee is an active EYPer or a young alum in their later university/third-level education years or first career steps and/or someone who is facing a change or challenge in their career path.

#WithRefugees Mentorship

In the experience-based pillar, they will be young individuals with a refugee background who seek professional or academic mentorship, or support in their new journey.
All mentees should approach the programme with specific goals in mind and be willing to share these goals with their mentor. The mentee should expect guidance, someone to bounce ideas off, and some information about their field or area. The mentee should not expect to receive step-by-step support or networking opportunities.

Get Involved!

If you are interested in being a mentor, please apply via this form before 23:59 CET on Sunday the 5th of October.
If you are interested in being a mentee, calls open soon!

We would love to see applicants of all levels of experience in their chosen career, and of a wide
range of different stages in their professional development.

If you have any questions about the programme or would like to discuss it further before applying, please reach out to the International Office via alumni@eyp.org.

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