In 2022, the Rector of ETH Zurich launched PBLabs as a ‘strategic initiative to promote project-based education and to empower graduates as they navigate a world of change and tackle the challenges of tomorrow.’
On Monday 18 May 2026, the venue played host to the kick-off of SEET’s 2026-27 Study Support Programme where forty-one refugees, seeking to navigate their own world of change, met the mentors who will help them do so over the next twelve months.
Cara and Yurena from the SEET volunteer team were the evening’s hosts, and ensured – as some of the mentees are quite new to Switzerland – that each part of the proceedings was outlined in both German and English.
After some initial ‘break the ice’ activities, it was time for the mentees and mentors to meet each other. Everyone gathered in the room had to identify their partner via a matching animal printed on their respective name badges!
The mentees were asked to outline their learning journey for the year ahead. This process involved identifying SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound), any obstacles that may need to be navigated (for example, achieving German language proficiency, purchasing a laptop or securing childcare arrangements) and any other resources they may require, which their mentors or SEET can support with. These form the basis of the mentor agreements which must be co-signed by each pair, by the end of June.
On the new programme cycle, twenty-four mentees have extended their involvement for another twelve months, whilst seventeen are participating for the first time. The group of twenty-six women, fourteen men and one non-binary participant are primarily based in Zürich, but in a sign of SEET’s growing pan-Switzerland profile, other mentees live in Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Bern, Fribourg, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, St Gallen and Uri.
The largest group originally hail from Ukraine, with others from Afghanistan, Belarus, Georgia, Sudan, Syria and Türkiye.
Of course, a SEET event would not be complete without an Apero, enabling those present – including a large contingent from the SEET team – to get to know each other further, ask questions one-to-one, and equally importantly, ensure no-one went home with an empty stomach.
As well as the mentees continuing their journey with SEET, it was fantastic to see many familiar faces among the mentors too. Some, like Alex and Daniel, have extended their involvement to support their original partner. Others like Giverny, Joseph and Ahmadullah, to name just three, are continuing their participation on the 2026-27 cycle, but this time with a new mentee.
The mentees and mentors will next come together as a group for the Reflection Meeting in mid-October which is historically seen as the ‘half-way’ mark of their involvement. The graduation ceremony is set to take place at the end of February 2027.
If you would be interested in supporting SEET as a future mentor, donor, partner or volunteer, please email us at: seet@seet.ch
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