PEDAGOGICAL SUPERVISION FOR STUDENT SUPPORT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The process of liberalization of modern society takes place on the background of radical transformations in education. Currently, higher education is widely available, promoting the professional and personal growth of the individual, supplementing the human capital of the society, and creating an inclusive society. Higher education is associated with better professional prospects and higher income, thus positively influencing people's quality of life. However, even though the number of individuals who have started their studies is constantly increasing, the analysis of statistical data shows that the number of people who have started their studies and those who have obtained a degree or qualification is significantly different. Therefore, the question of researching the support students need for starting and continuing their studies is relevant. Individual and group pedagogical supervisions are one of the forms/types of such individualized support.

The article will reflect the data obtained in the survey conducted within the Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership project no. 2020–1-LV01-KA203-077455 “Smart Solutions for Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education” and the results of the theoretical research. The purpose of the article is to research and evaluate the scientific literature on the implementation of pedagogical supervision in higher education, emphasizing the aspects of support provided to students in the process of pedagogical supervision, as well as to analyze the data obtained from the student survey, focusing on the additional support needed in the study process. The survey results allow concluding that the need for additional support for students in the study process is necessary not only in the academic aspect but the need for social and emotional support provided by a mentor and/or psychologist is especially emphasized. The results of the theoretical research show that pedagogical supervision can become a form/type of support that promotes not only the professional growth of students but also the improvement of personality and the development of academic competence. Pedagogical supervision in this case is understood as the interaction between the lecturer-supervisor and the student-supervise, in which the student is provided with supervision, support, guidance, and regulation for the improvement of the student's knowledge, skills, will efforts, and actions in the study process, and which takes into account the needs and action habits of the student-supervise.