University academic tutoring in times of COVID-19. Proposal of strategies from the perspective of the tutor and tutor

Abstract

The impact of COVID 19 on university higher education has been noticeable in the transformation of the operating system from face-to-face education to distance education. This mixed-approach research sought to determine the relationship between university academic tutoring and vocational training, as well as to describe and analyze the work conducted in academic tutoring at a public university in the Faculty of Business Sciences, Agrarian Sciences and Engineering to know the strategies they execute and elaborate proposals. A survey was administered to a random sample of 227 tutors. Then, 25 tutors and 25 tutors were selected, applying a semi-structured interview. The results indicate that there is a high positive correlation between academic tutoring and vocational training (0,728) and between academic tutoring and the dimensions: personal (0,712); professional (0,671) and academic (0,679). It is concluded that this should follow an organizational process that allows individual and group orientation activities, as well as co-referral when specialized help is required. The tutors must meet certain qualities that allow an empathic approach with the tutors; and academic management should provide continuous training for tutors to improve their strategies.