Support program for FINTA with a non-academic background and care leaver
With the Agnes-Mackensen-Program, we strengthen the self-efficacy of first-generation academics and promote their leadership skills and personal development. In doing so, we are intertwining the diversity dimensions of gender and social origin and are thereby raising TUM-wide awareness.The program is named after the first woman to study at TUM, who obtained a diploma in 1915 and is therefore considered the first graduate (and beyond that did not have an academic family background!).
The target group of the Agnes-Mackensen-Program are FINTA* with a non-academic background and thus addresses women, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people whose parents have not studied or who perceive themselves to have grown up in a non-academic environment. This year we also opened our program for care leaver.
Part of the program is our cooperation with Avanade, which enables our program participants to apply for an exclusive Avanade STEM Scholarship of 1.800€ per person. 10 scholarships are awarded per cohort.
After a successful pilot phase in 2024 and the Agnes Mackensen Program receiving the Impact of Diversity Award in the “University” category, we are now looking forward to continuing the program with a new cohort in 2025.
f.l.t.r.: Judith Wallner, industry partner from Dassault Systèmes, Senior Vice President for Talent Management & Diversity Prof. Claudia Peus, head of Staff Unit Diversity & Inclusion Dr. Alina Gales, initiator Impact of Diversity Barbara Lutz
photo credit: Astrid Eckert
“We cannot simply accept the fact that so many talented individuals are currently still not able to unleash their full individual potential. The social divide in the German educational system is unfortunately very large, and both those affected and we as a society suffer greatly because of it. We at TUM are therefore taking up the task and working to tangibly improve the situation.”
Patroness Prof. Dr. Claudia Peus, Senior Vice President for Talent Management and Diversity
The German education system is characterized by a high level of social selectivity – yet, we need talent in all its diversity. Children from non-academic backgrounds, i.e. without a parent with an academic degree, have lower participation rates and higher dropout rates at all levels.
At the same time, women are still a minority in STEM (sciences, technology, engineering & mathemathics subjects) and also underrepresented with increasing hierarchies of academic levels. This also has an impact on their share in leadership positions and in building start-ups.
The Agnes-Mackensen-Program aims to counteract the lack of equal opportunities for FINTA and careleaver with a non-academic background and to increase their proportion among graduates in order to lay the foundation for later work as a start-up founder, scientist or leader of the future and thus strengthen innovation in science, business and society.
Our mentoring is understood as an offer of individual advice and trustworthy support. Your mentor can help you gain self-confidence and make future-oriented decisions. Through the exchange with mentors, mentees not only receive practical knowledge, but also inspiration and encouragement to achieve their goals. Mentoring provides a sense of belonging and creates a platform for knowledge sharing, ultimately contributing to personal growth, improved performance and a stronger sense of community.
First-generation FINTA and care leaver students and academics often do not have a network for starting and developing their own career. At regular networking meetings, mentees and mentors can network with each other and thus contribute to strengthening the community. These networking meetings are supplemented by keynote speeches from inspiring role models.
Various soft skill workshops are offered with the aim of increasing the self-efficacy of first-generation FINTA and care leaver students and academics by developing their personal, entrepreneurial and academic skills. The focus is on offerings that support program participants in actively pursuing their goals and gaining confidence in their own abilities. All workshops are in English.
Planned workshops for 2025:
- “How to LinkedIn - How can I benefit from LinkedIn for my future career path?" (Trainer: Katja Wolter)
- “Female Finance - Smart Money Moves for Women: Build Wealth Through Financial Education" (Trainer: Lisa Bittighofer, Klasse 36)
- "Self-Doubt Despite Success – Recognizing and Overcoming the Imposter Phenomenon“ (Trainer: Nina Feustel-Durst)
- "Acting effectively in difficult conversations - How can I deal with a situation that is disruptive for me in an appreciative and clear manner?“ (Trainer: Davina Eggers)
- "Efficient time management - defining goals and setting priorities for success through value analysis“ (Trainer: Davina Eggers)
More workshops planned
TUM sees itself as an active place of innovation and progress and is therefore closely linked to educating digital know-how, creative scientific thinking and the development of start-up ideas. At the same time, both women and people with a non-academic background are disadvantaged in terms of learning a coding language, access to scientific education and entrepreneurship. TUM not only imparts theoretical knowledge to students and scientists, but also equips them with self-efficacy, the ability and willingness to facilitate innovation, and with an entrepreneurial spirit.
These workshops took place in 2024:
- Coding Capabilities workshop series for FINTA Bachelor's students
The principles of programming and electronic data processing are explained using a simple programming language (Python). The workshop series was rounded off with a motivational talk on the question “Why should I study programming?”
- Scientific Creativity workshop series for FINTA Master's students
Two TUM scientists show participants what it means to work in research and how a research process works. Participants will develop valuable skills that will help them to approach scientific work in a creative way - and to decide whether they would enjoy a career in academia.
- Workshop series Entrepreneurial Thinking for FINTA doctoral candidates and postdocs
Participants will learn which departments at TUM are active in the field of start-ups, how a start-up process works and get to know female founders and investors alike. In addition, experts will share how a professional career in the field of entrepreneurship can be shaped and to what extent leadership plays a role.
The target group of the Agnes-Mackensen-Program are FINTA with a non-academic background and thus addresses women, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people whose parents have not studied or who perceive themselves to have grown up in a non-academic environment. With cohort 2025, we open our program to all care leaver. Mentees can be FINTA people or care leaver who are studying or who are academics (PhD candidates / postdocs).
Mentors can be people of all genders (preferred but not mandatory) with a non-academic background across all academic levels (bachelor’s students in higher semesters, master’s students, PhD candidates, postdocs, scientists, academics, professors).
We see the mentors as "role models at eye level": On the one hand, they can convey a sense of belonging to the participants on an empathetic level; on the other hand, they know at best both TUM and the German university system and can pass on differentiated information, explain processes and academic specifities in an approachable way.
