Retired DTU alumni are to share their experience with companies under a new mentor project that DTU is setting up in partnership with the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI).
In January, DTU Alumni launched a new project designed to put retired engineers who trained at DTU in touch with small and medium-sized enterprises in Denmark. The intention is for these experienced engineers to take on the role of mentors for the companies in connection with one or more innovation projects—and their assistance is free of charge for the companies. The project is the first of its kind in Denmark.
“It makes a lot of sense to draw on the skills and experience that the senior citizens have built up over the course of long careers,” relates Isabella Ingrid Scheller, development consultant at the DTU office for alumni and special events, and project manager for the initiative. The idea originally arose in 2012, and a successful pilot project was implemented in 2013/14. The first full-scale experiment with the scheme will is now set to run throughout 2015.
The level of interest has been overwhelming, relates Isabella Scheller, who has written to more than 1,500 alumni and already received around 100 replies for the ‘bank’ of mentor profiles.
Everyone stands to gain
“The retirees have the opportunity to become part of DTU once more, and to help companies that are starting out in a new direction or which may have reached an impasse in one of their projects,” explains Ingrid Scheller. It not only means a lot to them, but also benefits the entire industry:
"It makes a lot of sense to draw on the skills and experience that the senior citizens have built up over the course of long careers."
Isabella Ingrid Scheller, DTU
“A lot of small and medium-sized enterprises have not given any consideration to taking on an engineer, but they may well change their minds so once they discover—through this project—what they can do. This is quite a bonus, and the retirees think so as well,” says Isabella Ingrid Scheller, who adds that over and above using their own competencies, the mentors involved would also like to to give something back to their profession.
And there is no shortage of interest from companies. To start with, 20 small and medium-sized enterprises are involved in the project. They are seeking help with a variety of issues such as performing statistical process checks, preparing and implementing sales strategies, boosting productivity, planning export campaigns and other aspects of business development.
The companies and mentors have been matched according to expertise and needs, and the mentors can devote as much time as they like to the project—as long as they put in a minimum of two hours per month for 11 months.
“Senior citizens make up a very interesting target group because they have both experience and the time to contribute it,” relates Ingrid Scheller, who is extremely keen to see the project scaled up on conclusion of the trial period. The project is provisionally being financed in the form of direct funding and working hours from DTU and DI.
Article in DTUavisen no. 2, February 2015.