ISSN 2409-7616

Kovtun N.V., Isaeva O.N., Nikolashina E.A.

MENTORSHIP IN FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS IN INTERNATIONAL (TURKMEN) STUDENTS: A PATHWAY TO START-UP LAUNCH

UDC 378

Kovtun N.V.1 (Ryazan, Russian Federation) – natalja-v-kovtun@yandex.ru; Isaeva O.N.1 (Ryazan, Russian Federation) – o.isaeva@rsu-rzn.ru; Nikolashina E.A.1 (Ryazan, Russian Federation) – e.nikolashina@rsu-rzn.ru

1Ryazan State University named after S. A. Yesenin

Abstract. In the context of dynamic socio-economic changes, there is a justified emphasis on the development of entrepreneurial competencies among foreign graduates of higher education institutions to expand their employment opportunities and ensure successful professional integration within the context of higher education internationalization. The use of a startup as a graduation qualification project for foreign students is explored. Mentorship in the professional training system for foreign students is identified as one of the priority directions of pedagogical support. The article examines the key areas of mentorship activities in theprocess ofpreparation of the startup project “Digital Guide as a Tool for Adaptation of Foreign Applicants and University Students in the Multicultural Environment of the City” developed by foreign students. The methodological basis of the study is a contextual approach, which makes the process of professional competences development possible to analyse. A theoretical analysis of domestic and foreign sources is conducted, empirical pedagogical observations are made, and practical experience working with foreign students is summarized. Through a survey of 50 foreign students in the final years at Ryazan State University named after S. A. Esenin, their entrepreneurial preferences are identified. A mentor’s functions in the process of developing startup projects by foreign students through the integration of intercultural and project-based approaches in professional staining are specified. The main stages of mentorship are described: identifying entrepreneurial interest in the startup, determining the target results of the project, and organizing the necessary mentoring support. In the applied aspect, the introduction of the developed mentorship system, adaptable for the preparation of startup projects by foreign students in humanities-oriented university programmes, is proposed.

Keywords: internationalization of education, mentorship, pedagogical support, international students, startup, entrepreneurial competencies.

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For citation: Kovtun, N. V., Isaeva, O. N., & Nikolashina, E. A. (2026). Mentoring in the formation of entrepreneurial competencies of foreign (Turkmen) students: Preparing a startup. CITISE, 1, 887–902. (In Russian).