epi Students Mentoring Programme - Successful Pilot Extended
The epi Students Mentoring Programme was launched as a pilot initiative in October 2025, with the aim of supporting epi students on their journey towards qualification as European Patent Attorneys (EPAs).
Over the six-month pilot phase, running until March 2026, 26 mentor-mentee pairs from across Europe participated in the programme, reflecting strong engagement from both students and experienced professionals. Regular mentoring meetings, typically held on a monthly basis, provided participants with personalised guidance and support alongside their training activities.
The programme received very positive feedback from both mentees and mentors, highlighting in particular the value of personal exchange and its contribution to professional development and motivation. The feedback also provided useful insights to further refine the programme going forward.
In light of this positive outcome, the epi Board has decided to extend the Mentoring Programme for an additional pilot year. The next round will build on the experience gained and further strengthen the programme, including a broader focus on supporting participants along their overall “road to EPA qualification”. The new cycle is planned to start in June.
In the current edition, the programme will aim to bring together similar numbers of mentees and mentors, continuing to foster exchange and knowledge-sharing within the epi student community.
The epi Students Mentoring Programme has proven to be a valuable complement to existing training activities, supporting candidates not only in their exam preparation but also in their professional development. Further feedback will be collected at the end of the next cycle to continue improving the initiative.
