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MinTU - Girls at TU Dortmund University

Almost 50 schoolgirls start a new STEM mentoring year

Mädchen bauen einen Turm aus Spaghetti und Marshmallows © Gleichstellungsbüro - TU Dortmund
Währen der Auftaktveranstaltung: Mentees bauen einen Turm aus Spaghetti und Marshmallows
The student mentoring program "MinTU - Girls at TU Dortmund University" began for the eighth time on January 24, 2019. Project coordinator Jill Timmreck welcomed 48 schoolgirls and eight female students to the kick-off event in the Rudolf Chaudoire Pavilion.

The most important event of the afternoon was the formation of the small groups, each consisting of around six schoolgirls (mentees) and one student (mentor). They go through the program together for a year. The mentors used creative methods and special tools to help the group get to know each other: the mentoring group led by student Dania built towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows, allowing the students to show off their skills as the "civil engineers of tomorrow". The "Physics" mentoring group came up with a suitable group name for the year together. They are now called the "MinTUnautinnen".

Start of a year full of STEM workshops and mentoring meetings

Finally, ideas were sought for planning the first mentoring meetings. Some groups would like to visit the DASA or the Phänomenta, while others are looking for more sporting activities for the first meeting. All eight groups had great fun and are looking forward to the year ahead - filled with mentoring meetings and workshops at TU Dortmund University.


The project MinTU - Girls into TU Dortmund University offers schoolgirls between the ages of 12 and 14 the opportunity to get to know STEM departments at TU Dortmund University as part of a mentoring program. The girls are supervised for a year by a mentor who is herself a student on a STEM course at TU Dortmund University. She acts as a role model and provides an insight into her subject and everyday life as a student through personal exchange.