On the role of mentoring in the system of training highly qualified scientific staff (on the example of the Republic of Belarus)

The research is devoted to the study of the institute of scientific mentoring as one of the mechanisms for the reproduction and strengthening of the country’s intellectual human resources potential. The purpose of the work is to identify the role of mentoring and individual aspects of its functioning in the system of training highly qualified scientific personnel. The scientific and practical significance of the study lies in obtaining unique sociological data necessary for the development of scientifically based recommendations, the implementation of which will improve the efficiency of scientific mentoring and training of highly qualified scientific personnel. The research methodology is based on such conceptual approaches of sociological discourse as exchange theory, symbolic interactionism, understanding sociology, phenomenological sociology and social constructionism. The methods of collecting empirical data are questionnaire survey, expert survey by interview method. Comprehensive sociological research conducted in 2024 found that most degree seekers feel support by their institute staff and can ask colleagues for professional help if necessary. Among the identified conditions that are associated with scientific mentoring and determine the preparation of dissertations, the assistance of a scientific supervisor occupies leading position. According to the majority of respondents, their organization implements to one degree or another all the tasks of scientific mentoring within the framework of training highly qualified scientific personnel. At the same time, two tasks of scientific mentoring are least implemented: creation and development of scientific schools; formation of successful role models of scientists in science. More than half of applicants for academic degrees indicated that the institution of scientific mentoring influences the indicators of reproduction of human resources potential of science in the Republic of Belarus. The results obtained during the research work indicate the need to further enhance the role of the institute of scientific mentoring as one of the key factors in the training of highly qualified scientific personnel to ensure the personnel security of the state in the scientific sphere.