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Chernenok M.A. [Participation of students of the pedagogical university in volunteer activities: motives and barriers] World of Science. Series: Sociology, Philology, Cultural Studies, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 4. Available at: https://sfk-mn.ru/PDF/27SCSK425.pdf (in Russian).

Participation of students of the pedagogical university in volunteer activities: motives and barriers

Chernenok Mariya Alexsandrovna
The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
E-mail: mahabum@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2036-4840
RSCI: https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=821877

Abstract. The article explores the specifics of volunteer activity as a social phenomenon in the student environment of a pedagogical university. Based on an empirical study involving 312 students from the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, the article analyzes the features of students’ participation in volunteer activities and identifies differences between students from pedagogical and non-pedagogical fields of study. For students, volunteer activity is an important tool for socialization, professional development, and personal growth. In a pedagogical university, volunteerism is particularly relevant, as it directly contributes to the formation of pedagogical competencies and the development of a responsible civic attitude.

The research methodology includes a questionnaire survey and interviews with active volunteers. It has been established that for students of pedagogical fields, volunteering is a form of professional socialization and development of pedagogical competencies, while for students of other fields, it is a way of self-realization and expansion of social connections. The study revealed that the main motivations for participating in volunteering activities are helping others, personal growth, and developing communication skills. Key barriers include high academic workload, lack of time and information about volunteering opportunities, and a lack of flexible participation formats. The results of the study demonstrate that volunteer activities contribute to the formation of professional competencies, soft skills, and students’ civic identity. It was found that the existing university system of volunteer support is effectively integrated into the educational process.

The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using the results to improve the management of volunteer associations in the system of higher pedagogical education and the development of student social practices.

Keywords: volunteering; social process; motive; socialization; professionalization; management; barrier

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