The Expected and Actual Roles of Advisors in the View of Mahidol University International College Students

Abstract

          The aim of this research is to study the view of Mahidol University International College (MUIC) students on the expected role and actual role of advisors in the academic year of 2015-2016.  The role of advisor is comprised of 5 following aspects: academic advice, advisory methods, personality, student assistance and student development. The sample group in this study was 373 MUIC undergraduate students from every year of study who registered in the academic year of 2015-2016. The instrument used in the study was a questionnaire consisting of 3 following parts: Part 1 student’s general information, Part 2 questions on expected role and actual role of advisor in the view of students and Part 3 questions on advisor and expectation of students for the future role of advisor. Frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to analyze data.

          The study results found that the expected role of advisor in the view of students in overall was at high level. When considering from each aspect, the researcher found that the expected role of advisor in the view of students in overall was at high level. These aspects ranked by mean from highest to lowest were personality, academic advice, student assistance, student development and advisory methods.

          The actual role of advisor in the view of students in overall was at medium level. When considering from each aspect, the researcher found that the actual role of advisor was at medium level. These aspects ranked by mean from highest to lowest were personality, academic advice, student development, student assistance and advisory methods.

          When comparing between the expected role and the actual role of advisor in the view of students, it showed that the students’ expectation on the role of advisor in all 5 aspects was at high level. However, the actual role of advisor in the view of students was at medium level.

          The comments and suggestions from students showed that advisor should be lecturer who teaches in the major that students study in, one advisor should be responsible for not more than 20 advisees per group and take care of them throughout the program until graduation. Moreover, advisor should meet the whole group of his/her advisees at least once a month and when students want to meet their advisor, they prefer making an appointment in advance and meet him/her on the appointed time.