Since 2012, the X-Ment mentoring programme has been supporting the personal and professional development and decision-making of doctoral students and postdocs at KIT. Through a mentoring partnership with people from various fields, X-Ment represents an innovative interface between science and business.
How is X-Ment structured?
X-Ment offers four thematic sprints over a period of around one year. Each sprint consists of a workshop or a self-directed learning phase, peer coaching and a review and retrospective.
The sprints cover the following topics:
- Openness & networking
- Responsibility & leadership
- My value for the organisation
- Agility & digital collaboration
In parallel, a mentoring relationship is established and actively shaped independently. The programme begins and ends with a joint workshop.
What advantages does X-Ment offer?
Authentic insights
X-Ment offers authentic insights into the structures, processes and rules of a commercial enterprise or a scientific institution, through the mentoring relationship.
Personal development
In addition to impulses for reflecting on individual career options, personal development is supported, e.g. through the expansion of self-marketing and leadership skills.
Professional networking
Through the mentoring partnership and the peer exchange, the participants expand their network within and outside KIT and benefit from each other's experiences.
| Call for Applications | 1 February - 15 April 2025 |
| Kick-off | 8 May 2025, 9am – 5pm |
| Workshop ‚Responsibility and Leadership‘ | 11 October 2025, 9am – 5pm |
| Workshop ‘My Value for the Organization’ | 17 January 2026, 9am – 5pm |
| Workshop ‘Agility and Digital Collaboration’ | 21 March 2026, 9am - 5pm |
| Peer Coaching and Reflection Sessions | By arrangement |
| Closing Event | 21 May 2026, 9am – 5pm |
The 15th round of the X-Ment mentoring programme will start on 8 May 2025 - this time in English. Please send the following application documents to franziska nickolaus2 ∂does-not-exist.kit edu by 15 April 2025:
- Letter of motivation
- Curriculum vitae
- Brief description of your current field of work or research
- List of publications and scientific achievements (if available)
Please note that a programme fee of 500€ will be charged. Further information can be found in our flyer.
‘By participating in the X-Ment programme, I was able to get to know and understand myself better. The many opportunities to discuss topics and problems in the group as a whole or in small groups have greatly enriched my personal development. Our group dynamics in particular, as well as the trusting and friendly interaction, made a significant contribution to this. I wouldn't want to have missed the experiences of the last 14 months.’ – Monika, X-Ment 14
‘X-Ment lives through its participants. Working with great people for over a year in instructive workshops on a wide range of topics, reflecting together on professional situations and developing ourselves further. I learned a lot during this time and can only recommend the programme to others.’ – Anna, X-Ment 14
Project Coordination "Diversity Mainstreaming", mentoring program "X-Ment"
+49 721 608-45398
franziska nickolaus2 ∂does-not-exist.kit edu