Collaboration with a Research Supervisor: The Role of a Mentor in Academic Work
An internship with a foreign academic supervisor is a significant and productive stage in a doctoral student’s academic career, aimed at deepening knowledge, enhancing research skills, and preparing for future scientific achievements.
During the internship, my foreign supervisor — Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages at N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, Dr. Natalia Viktorovna Burenina — and I worked in close collaboration, which became a solid foundation for successful progress in research and academic practice.
Our interaction included regular consultations, discussions of scientific issues, and addressing relevant problems in my research field. This allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of my work, and improve the research methodology. My supervisor provided valuable assistance in finding and analyzing academic sources, clarifying complex issues, and refining approaches to scientific problem-solving.
An important part of the internship also included seminars and scientific meetings in which I participated under the guidance of my mentor. These events served as a platform for exchanging ideas with colleagues, discussing emerging trends in science, and advancing research projects.
This experience was not only a chance to deepen my theoretical knowledge, but also to develop practical research skills that will ensure the successful completion of my doctoral dissertation and contribute to my future academic career.
Sandugash Mettibayeva, PhD student at the Department of Chinese Studies
