STUDENT VOLUNTEERING AS A FORM OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RUSSIAN–UKRAINIAN WAR (A CASE STUDY OF T. H. SHEVCHENKO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY «CHERNIHIV COLEHIUM»)

Abstract

Purpose of the article. The purpose of the article is to analyze student volunteer practices as a component of the volunteer movement in the Chernihiv region during the Russian-Ukrainian war (2014-2025) using the case of T. H. Shevchenko National University «Chernihiv Colehium», as well as to determine their role in the formation of civic engagement and social responsibility among young people within regional and institutional contexts.

Research methodology. The study is based on the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity, and systematicity. The historical-genetic method was used to identify the causes and factors behind the transformation of volunteer activities during the Russian-Ukrainian war. The historical-comparative method made it possible to compare forms of volunteer activity in different periods of the war, particularly before and after 2022. The oral history method was applied to record the experiences of participants in the volunteer movement. The case study method enabled an analysis of the activities of T. H. Shevchenko National University «Chernihiv Colehium» as one of the centers of the volunteer movement in the Chernihiv region. The application of these methods provides a comprehensive analysis of student volunteering as a historical phenomenon.

Scientific novelty. The study introduces new empirical materials into academic discourse, highlighting student volunteering as an institutional component of the regional volunteer environment during the Russian–Ukrainian war. It demonstrates the transformation of student volunteering into a sustainable form of civic engagement and emphasizes the role of oral history as a source for studying everyday life and social mobilization in wartime.

Conclusions. Student volunteering in the university environment represents an important component of the regional volunteer movement and develops through cooperation with local communities and civil society organizations. Since 2022, it has become more structured and value-driven, focusing on supporting the military, assisting civilians, and preserving the memory of wartime events. The experience of the university highlights the role of higher education institutions as key actors in civic mobilization and in fostering social responsibility among young people. The collected oral history materials constitute a valuable source base for further research on the regional dimension of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Future research should focus on local volunteer initiatives and the role of universities in processes of civic mobilization and wartime everyday life.