Course Content

Social mentoring has emerged as a vital, person-centred, volunteer-driven social intervention across Europe and beyond. This international university short course (non-degree) addresses the need for training and critical reflection in this area. It equips participants with the necessary practical skills and theoretical perspectives to meaningfully engage in inclusive social mentoring practice and related programs.

Module 1: Understanding Social Mentoring – Key Concepts

The development of social mentoring: past, present, and future
Social mentoring: definitions, objectives, and key concepts
Types, forms, and contexts of social mentoring
Social mentoring and society: volunteering, social intervention, and social/public policy

3 ECTS credits (≈ 60% of workload)

Module 2: Nurturing Meaningful Relationships in Social Mentoring

Building relationships: practical skills and theoretical foundations

Research-based findings from mentoring programs
Organizing relationships in mentoring programs: phases of relationship building; exercises based on real case situations
Ethical dilemmas, roles, and boundaries in mentoring relationships

2 ECTS credits (≈ 40% of workload)

Course Objectives

To build capacity on social mentoring as a growing, volunteer-based form of social Intervention for disadvantaged populations (overall objective)
To convey a comprehensive understanding of social mentoring at the levels of personal relationships, programmes and policies (main objective of module 1)
To facilitate theoretical knowledge and practical skills on mentoring relationships across diverse contexts (main objective of module 2)

Requirements for Completion and Assessment

Attendance and active participation at the in-person session (min 80%)
Submission of a reflective scientific essay focusing on personal learning processes and achievements.
Submission deadline: 8 weeks after the end of the in-person phase.

The work will be evaluated on a pass/not pass basis, with feedback provided within four weeks of submission.

Competencies Acquired

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

analyse the core concepts, functions, and societal relevance of social mentoring;
differentiate mentoring approaches, programme models, and target groups across European and international contexts;•
map key dimensions of social mentoring across relational, organizational, and policy levels;
apply core relational skills to navigate mentoring relationships with socially disadvantaged populations;
identify opportunities, challenges, and ethical dilemmas in mentoring settings based on research findings and practical case scenarios.
critically reflect on their own positionality, recognise power issues and inequalities within mentoring contexts, and relate lived experiences to the goal of social inclusion.

Course Leaders and Teachers

https://www.socialmentoring.orgThe course is led by Dr. Eberhard Raithelhuber, Professor of Social Intervention and Transformation, together with Dr. Marija Mitić

The teaching is carried out by Suttneruni lecturers, who are supported by colleagues from other European higher education institutions and practitioners from social mentoring organizations.

In 2026, the following experts from the ERASMUS+ Cooperation Partnership, "Mentoring for Social Inclusion in Europe: Sharing Knowledge and Building Capacity" (Ment4EU), are contributing: Dr. Bernadine Brady, Dr. Tatiana Ciff, Peter de Cuyper, and Prof. Óscar Prieto Flores.

Venue and Accommodation

The course takes place at Campus St. Pölten, which is approximately a 10-minute walk from the St. Pölten train station. St. Pölten is 25 minutes from Vienna Westbahnhof, 40 minutes from Vienna Central, and about one hour from Vienna International Airport. The street address is Campus-Platz 1, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria.

A range of hotel rooms is available within walking distance of the Campus St. Pölten and the train station, with single rooms typically priced between €70 and €130 per night. For those who prefer to stay in Vienna, additional accommodations are available near the Wien Hütteldorf and Wien Westbahnhof train stations. Trains connect Vienna and St. Pölten every 15 minutes.