Design of an e-mentoring program from analysis of competences acquired by students of marketing program in a practicum semester

Diseño de un programa de e-mentoring a partir del análisis de competencias adquiridas por los estudiantes de práctica empresarial del programa de mercadeo

This research is interested in the role that e-mentoring can play as a strategy of academic and professional support for the 6th semester students of the National and International Marketing Program of the University of Manizales. The intent of e-mentoring is to create and maintain relationships. Its main purpose is to establish a safe virtual environment where the mentoree can share academic and professional weaknesses with a professional mentor to find possible solutions. While specific learning skills can be used as the basis for creating the relationship, the

mentoring approach goes beyond these areas. Its main objective is to ensure that participants feel "connected" and have the possibility of engaging in a range of interactions such as developing contacts (Rovai, 2002). Its integration in a university context is to support and facilitate the transition to the working life of students in academic practicums. Taking this approach, the e-mentoring program aims to enhance the employability of students by introducing them to the reality of the workplace through the formulization of virtual and collaborative relationships with professional mentors who have experience in their respective sectors. To meet this objective, a descriptive study has been carried out to identify the necessary competencies to be developed and re-enforced by the students of the Marketing program. As a result of the outcomes from the first part of this research study, a mentoring program will be designed utilizing the ADDIE model.