Abstract:

Our aim in this paper is to analyze the implementation of the activities that define the Student Orientation Process in the Polytechnic School of the University of Extremadura during the academic year 2017-18.

In this process, two different systems of tutoring coexist in parallel. On one hand, students are supervised through conventional tutoring methods through the Tutorial Action Plan (TAP) offered by the School. On the other hand, they are also oriented by peer mentoring manners which are being supported by the so-called “Accomplice Project" (AP). The main characteristic of this project is that the tutoring actions are led not only by teacher-tutors, but also by student-tutors of higher courses (they are the accomplices).

The accomplices are 3rd and 4th grade students and even PhDs ones. They are involved as tutors of the new students (in the following also called as telemachus) and, at the same time, as accomplices of the teacher-tutors, achieving a link between them.

Peer tutoring and in particular "Accomplice Project” has been revealed as a highly effective practice for integrative teaching that provides several benefits for all agents involved in the Polytechnic School. In fact, the implementation and the mentoring system being equal in parallel with the traditional one, is justified by the achieving of the following objectives:

-Guide the telemachus through the academic, social and the administrative point of view along the University environment in general, and the Polytechnic School in particular.
-Promote with the help of the accomplices, the academic and social integration of the new students in the university life.
-Provide students with a broader perspective and skills regarding to professional and personal issues with the aim of positively influencing their future academic, personal and professional career.

In order to achieve these objectives, the employed methodology consists of two different types of activities:

- Individual / group interviews with the teacher-tutor with the aim of guiding and helping the student on academic or professional issues.
- Talks and workshops (specialized according to the students to whom they are directed). They have tried to attend to three aspects: reception (especially recommended for first-year students where information about university services is offered), follow-up and completion of studies (with activities focused on the labor insertion and preparation of the curriculum).

After the coexistence in the School of both systems of orientation (the classical TAP and the peer tutoring AP), in this work we present how they have been implemented in detail. Also, we will extract conclusions of the activities carried out and present the impressions that tutors and students have about both tutoring systems.

Keywords:

Orientation, tutoring, mentoring, peer mentoring.