Abstract

Writing this article responds to the necessity to systematize the experiences, reflections, and discussions about the process of research training from the student’s perspective in the major of Counseling program at the National University (UNA). The aim is to explore the work requirements in the research field and to determine the applicability of pedagogical strategies in professional daily work. This research has an exploratory quantitative design, in which 15 students of the course Research Methodology, from the bachelor’s degree program in Counseling in 2014, 2015, 2016 y 2017, carried out an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to this curricular area to pick up information in the category “Perception of the Academic Training in Research.” Besides, they completed an open-questioned and semi-structured questionnaire regarding the characteristics that the person from the Counseling major needs to become a researcher, as well as the applicability of research in the everyday professional work. One of the main conclusions is the necessity of highlighting the significance of research in the guidance counselors’ professional area, and the importance that integrality of processes has around the professional endeavor and the academic training.

Keywords: Research; orientation; academic formation; university education