Abstract:

Traditionally, current mentoring programs are based on the relationship between only one mentor and one or more mentees; most commonly it is one-to-one.

The current mentoring plan is part of a general initiative promoted by University of Jaén (Spain) into the academic context. Higher Polytechnic School of Jaén began to promote this mentoring plan experience in all the offered engineering degrees for the first time in 2008 since the incorporation of the University of Jaén to the framework of Bologna process. Students who usually enroll in this program at Higher Polytechnic School of Jaén come from upper secondary, professional or vocational schools. During the students’ reception meeting, the Vice-Head of Engineering School informs and offers them the possibility to participate in the mentoring plan. Next academic course, participants could have as mentors, not only a professor even another student of a higher course of their same degree. So, the coaching process would be reinforced, especially during this first academic year, in order to get a better adapt process in the new academic context.

Others universities used to offer this program throughout the whole studies’ period (four years for undergraduate and two additional for master degrees’ students). Higher Polytechnic School of Jaén focuses primarily on the first course, because it is considered the best time for a great cooperation and it is when usually students need a greater support on academic matters and for getting a good beginning and a better ending. Especially, students have made an intensive use of ILIAS E-learning Platform via forums, mails, etc. (available on: http://epj.ujaen.es/pat_virtual). Besides, tutorial lessons face-to-face has been offered by mentors and technical coordinators of this program. In addition, surveys results show us an important increase of the total number of enrolled students and also an increase on the satisfaction rate for mentors and mentees.

To sum up, this study provides a new proposal in order to design a new mentoring integral plan for engineering students of Higher Polytechnic School of Jaén. It offers activities along all the courses and has been scheduled for attending the different needs bring up throughout their studies and targeted on their future career. The official website will provide all the necessary tools for enrolling into activities, collecting information and facilitating the skill development and evaluation by all involved participants (professors and students). For students, it enables them get involved in all multidisciplinary tasks and specific projects proposed by Higher Polytechnic School of Jaén.

Keywords:

Mentoring, engineering students, tutoring, student assistance, student support.