PERSONAL DIMENSION OF MENTORING AT UNIVERSITY. A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITY OF CANTABRIA (SPAIN)

This paper presents a research carried out at University of Cantabria during schools years 2011-12 and 2012-13. This research aims to know views and experiences of students in their initial years at university. The first results allow us to analyze the personal dimension of mentoring, with the ultimate objective of proposing improvements in the activities developed by different people and institutions (teachers, departments, vice-chancellorship, etc.). The methodology used in this research is the qualitative one, applying techniques such as interviews and focus group for data collection. The sample consisted of 13 students who are studying the first year of their bachelor at university, from each of the 5 areas of knowledge offered in our university. Data analysis was carried out through a codification process of the qualitative information. The findings allow us to discover the importance of the personal dimension in the mentoring process, and how it is inevitably linked to the academic and professional ones. Besides, it is recognized the need for further research in this area based on the student experience, as well as several proposals to improve the actions of mentoring in university, considering it as an opportunity for participation of students and teaching innovation.