Il peer tutoring per l’orientamento educativo e professionale. Sviluppo di un modello di peer tutoring dedicato agli studenti della scuola secondaria di secondo grado

The reality in which we live and act is characterised by multiple changes that cause uncertainty, confusion, and complexity in decision-making. Guidance can play a key role, supporting the management of complexity and fostering personal, educational, and professional development (Da Re, 2024a; Martínez Clares & González Lorente, 2021; Savickas et al., 2009). Even if guidance is a lifelong process, it is crucial during the transition after upper secondary education diploma (Dato et al., 2023; Sicurello, 2024). The research aims to understand if and how peer tutoring can address upper secondary school students' guidance needs, particularly in relation to the transition phase. To do this, in addition to valuing the regulatory and theoretical framework, it proposes studies aimed at exploring the research context, leading to the definition of a peer tutoring model for educational and career guidance. Through regulatory and literature reviews, the educational and career guidance vision that supported the research was initially outlined, and a peer tutoring profile for guidance that guided the development of practices was defined. After defining the normative and theoretical bases of guidance and tutoring, the research context was explored by analysing documents on tutoring and guidance and interviewing the actors involved in this reality. The theoretical-regulatory analysis and the evidence emerged from the in-depth study of the context were enriched by further studies. For the design of the training proposal, a content analysis of peer tutor training models across national universities and a literature review of national and international tutorial paths were carried out. To define the practical proposals, four consolidated guidance and/or tutorial models were analysed. The triangulation of data collected through context analysis, insights on training and guidance/tutorial models, and reflections emerged from the regulatory and literature analysis led to the definition of a peer tutoring model for educational and career guidance. The outlined model includes a training path dedicated to peer tutors for guidance and an operational part consisting of some practical guidance proposals for upper secondary school students. The research highlights how peer tutors, thanks to specific training, can play a significant role in guidance processes. Furthermore, according to the study results, these figures are recognised and legitimised by school students, who declare they want to engage with peers and believe that peer tutoring can meet guidance needs. At the same time, the research outlines some operational proposals for educational and career guidance peer tutoring, in line with the consolidated models analysed, the needs that emerged, and the theoretical considerations. In general, the developed project proposals prove to be particularly useful and in line with the reference context of the research, which currently does not provide for training activities for peer tutors dedicated to guidance nor peer tutoring interventions specifically focused on guidance at school. Furthermore, they respond to the broader need to enhance guidance and tutoring to manage the changing and uncertain reality in which we live. Finally, they are consistent with the regulatory framework, in particular with Ministerial Decree 752 (MUR, 2021b). In any case, as this model has not yet been empirically applied, it requires an experimentation and evaluation. However, following an accurate process of contextual analysis and with the necessary adaptations, the model, although still in a conceptual stage, can also be adopted in different realities. Overall, the research highlights a possible path for defining peer tutoring models for guidance, outlines some operational proposals, and contributes to the enrichment of the scientific debate and the development of practices on the topic of tutoring and guidance.