The role of pedagogical mentoring in the process of internship of international students

The article explores the role of pedagogical mentoring in optimizing the professional practice of international students in Russian universities. Against the background of growing internationalization of education, the authors analyze the key challenges of adaptation related to cultural, linguistic and methodological barriers. The theoretical basis of the work is the concepts of Slastenin V.A., Zimneya I.A. and Passov E.I., which allowed to systematize the functional triad of mentoring: adaptation, didactic and motivational. The organizational model integrating the stages of support, evaluation criteria and feedback mechanisms was substantiated. The systemic problems of mentoring implementation, including the deficit of intercultural competence of teachers and institutional limitations, are revealed. The ways of modernization through standardization of mentor training, cluster solutions and digitalization of processes are suggested. It is emphasized that effective mentoring transforms cultural differences into a resource for professional formation.