THE ROLE OF MENTORING IN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS

Abstract

The article considers the role of a mentor in the process of professional development of higher education students. The article analyses the importance of mentoring activities in the formation of students’ necessary professional competencies, personal qualities and skills that contribute to successful adaptation in the professional environment after graduation. Different models of mentoring, their peculiarities and effectiveness depending on the specifics of the educational institution and training profile are considered. The article presents successfully implemented models of mentoring activity on the example of several higher education institutions in Russia. The findings of the study show that a properly organised mentoring system contributes to the improvement of students’ professional readiness and their competitiveness in the labour market.