ABSTRACT VIEW
MENTORSHIP EDUCATION TECHNIQUES FOR ENGINEERING RESEARCH: A CASE STUDY FROM TECHNICAL UNIVERSITIES
A. Constantinescu-Dobra, C.S. Martis
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (ROMANIA)
This article explores innovative educational methodologies designed to guide researchers in technical universities toward a clear research and development trajectory. As the landscape of research becomes increasingly complex, the need for targeted coaching and mentoring has emerged as a critical component in helping researchers identify and refine their academic focus. The article provides a comprehensive overview of globally implemented techniques that facilitate this process. It highlights key strategies and best practices that have been successfully adopted worldwide to support researchers in navigating their technical projects.

A significant part of this study focuses on a detailed case analysis of the international HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-03 (DITARTIS) project, an initiative aimed at enhancing mentorship capabilities within academic institutions. In this project, a select group of mentors underwent specialized training to develop their coaching skills. This training equipped them to effectively assist researchers in narrowing their fields of research, ensuring alignment with their professional goals and the broader demands of their disciplines. The oppinion of participants in this mentorship program are evaluated, demonstrating the impact of structured coaching on researchers' ability to define and pursue their research paths effectively. The findings suggest that some educational interventions can significantly enhance researchers' productivity by providing them with the necessary tools to focus their efforts more strategically.

Keywords: Educational methods, mentorship, engineering researchers, transdiciplinarity.