Type of Project: Funded project Model project
Life inclusive: CompetenceTandems for Female University Students with and without Disabilities

In this nationwide project 40 female university students (with and without disabilities or a chronic illness) have the opportunity to focus on their academic and professional career and expand their networks together with like-minded peers. The core piece of the project, that consists of two one-year cycles, is the so-called CompetenceTandem. For a period of twelve months, two students (one with and one without a disability) form a team in which they mutually exchange views, experiences and skills. The tandem partners are intended to support, inspire and learn (from) each other, exchange views and develop new perspectives. In the course of the year, the tandem will be coached by two co-mentors (for six months consecutively). The students will not only receive hands-on academic and career advice from these experienced academics and professionals but take an active part in the relationship by conducting biographic interviews with the mentors (many of whom have a disability or chronic illness themselves) in which they identify success strategies as well as coping techniques. They will also inquire about how such factors as gender, age, social background, and disability influence important events and stages in life. To multiply learning experiences and create synergy effects, the tandems and co-mentors are embedded into the wider network of all project participants. This will allow the group to establish manifold contacts and a close-knit support system that can be useful during, as well as beyond, the end of the programme. The group seminars provide additional learning and communication effects through various methods (world café, speed dating, visual recording, four corners etc.).