Foreningen Lige Adgang’s professional mentoring programme, Karrierebroen, supports people with refugee or migrant backgrounds in achieving their employment goals and promoting lasting connections to education and work. Through industry-specific mentoring programmes with volunteer professional mentors, mentors and mentees focus on networking, applications, workplace culture, Danish language skills and more. The evaluation provides insight into the effects of the 101 initiated mentoring programmes that we have run since June 2024, funded by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). The report is based on both qualitative and quantitative evaluations, which document positive effects and development among both mentors and mentees throughout the mentoring programmes.

Foreningen Lige Adgang’s mentoring programme for FGU students aims to strengthen students’ motivation and their education and employment opportunities. The report evaluates the impact of the mentoring initiative in the period 2021–2024, supported by Tuborgfondet. It describes the implementation of the mentoring programmes and documents positive outcomes such as increased self-esteem and greater belief in one’s own abilities. In addition, it highlights the mentors’ motivation, challenges and the factors that ensure the initiative becomes embedded at the schools. Relationships and flexibility are emphasised as central to the success of the mentoring programmes.

Foreningen Lige Adgang has offered volunteer professional mentoring programmes for FGU students for many years. The project in this report focuses on FGU students with Danish as a second language (DSA). Mentors support their well-being, language development, mental health and clarification of education or employment pathways. The report covers the period 2021–2024 and shows positive effects on DSA students’ well-being, language skills and independence. Relationships with mentors create a sense of security and increase motivation. Flexible mentoring programmes strengthen both well-being and clarification.

The project Breaking Youth Unemployment helps young people from disadvantaged residential areas move towards employment and education through volunteer professional mentors. With support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (2018–2021), six area-based social initiatives were involved. The evaluation shows that 73% of participants entered employment, education or internships. Many gained increased confidence and motivation. The mentors contributed industry-specific knowledge and concrete tools, while success required clear goals and committed mentees. The collaboration with the residential areas was generally positive, although recruitment was challenged by COVID-19 and limited resources. The evaluation recommends clearer alignment of expectations, ongoing follow-up and better matching between young people and mentors based on professional interests. The initiative is assessed as effective and valuable for both young people and collaboration partners.

Nordic recommendations on how people with ethnic minority backgrounds can enter education Recommendation notes from the Nordic Council of Ministers focus on how more people with ethnic minority backgrounds can enter education within the care and welfare sector. Emphasis is placed on strengthened language support and integration into health and social care education, with a focus on adult students and the growing shortage of care workers. The recommendations include language teaching as part of education programmes, language mentors in the workplace, flexible modular courses, digital tools for bilingual teaching, and recognition of practical job competencies to better support the role of apprenticeship hosts.

The association’s mentoring programmes strengthen FGU students’ motivation as well as their education and employment opportunities. The report assesses the embedding of the initiative at four FGU institutions during the period 2021–2024, with support from Tuborgfondet. The evaluation shows a significant positive effect on students’ belief in their own abilities and future prospects. They achieve concrete outcomes such as support in finding internships, increased confidence and a clearer overview. The mentor role requires both practical and pedagogical competencies. Success depends on recruitment and clear alignment of expectations, as motivation and mental health challenges can lead to dropouts. Embedding the initiative requires management support, clear structures and relevant competencies.