Mexico City, Mexico, November 30, 2023. Universidad PanamericanaThe SMART Center's Advisory team has embarked on a transformational dialogue revolution in the history of university counseling.
This is because, over the past two years, the efforts of Dr. Alejandro Ordóñez, dean of the Panamericana School of Engineering, and Maria Fernanda Haro, head of Advisory at the SMART Center, have empowered nearly 100 advisors to engage in authentic dialogue and promote active listening with students.
Importance of the university advisor
Ms. Haro affirms that university counseling is a differentiator that Universidad Panamericana offers its students. "Thanks to it, students have a person to guide them in the areas of life and career, offering each one support to achieve their goals," she says. Dr. Ordóñez adds: "This is one of the pillars of the personalized attention that characterizes Panamericana.
Both explain that, for the students, their experience at our school is enriched by having an advisor, because the advisor "helps them to generate strategies for their development, in such a way that it enhances their skills exponentially," says Haro.
"The advisor can become a support figure in all aspects of each student's life project. Sometimes friendships are formed that can last a lifetime," adds Ordóñez.
Stages of training
To facilitate the consultant experience, the program offered by Advisory is divided into three key phases: pre-work sessions , face-to-face sessions and post-work.
It begins with an individual study to prepare the consultants, followed by theoretical and practical sessions in a controlled environment, and ends with a personalized follow-up to reinforce what has been learned and mark the end of this journey. This provides a comprehensive approach that ensures the effective assimilation of coaching competencies .
This meeting has shown great potential to strengthen and build interpersonal relationships between different profiles, which transcend the professional sphere. In this way, a support network is woven that not only enhances the quality of counseling, but also the university experience as a whole.
The coaching compass
The curriculum-valued training, part of the SMART Advisor Diploma, is an opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of coaching. This program allows advisors to explore two of the competencies that every coach should have when it comes to university advising. Awakening interest among participants to learn more about the subject and be able to become certified later on.
The highlight of the course is its ability to actively involve students in decision making and engage them in the activities involved. By fostering a process of reflection, they are not only guided in their university career, but are also provided with a compass for their future personal and professional life, which will accompany them at every stage of this journey called life.
This connection between theory and practical application defines the uniqueness of the program and makes it a vital training experience in the evolution and growth of university counselors .
"It is an honor and marks the transcendence of my work, since I am sure that with the training we are implementing, the advisor will have more tools to support students and lead them to professional and life success," reveals Advisory's chief about the experience of training advisors.
While the dean of the School of Engineering describes it as "Gratifying! By generating a space where best practices and possible solutions to problems we consultants face are shared, the feeling I am left with at the end of the courses is the feeling you get when you do your bit for a better world".
Don't hesitate any longer! Be part of the next generation.
Learn more about SMART Center at: https://smartcenter.up.edu.mx/#
