ORGANIZATION OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

This article presents a theoretical analysis and synthesis of the organizational and psychological foundations of student recreational activities in higher education institutions. The relevance of the study is substantiated in the context of the transformation of the educational environment, digitalization, and contemporary social challenges–particularly martial law–which heighten the need for effective forms of organizing student leisure time and providing psychological support to young people.

The purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical justification and analysis of the organizational and psychological foundations of student extracurricular activities in higher education institutions.

Methodology. The study employs general scientific research methods: analysis, systematization, and generalization of pedagogical, psychological, scientific-methodological, and specialized literature; methods of moving from the specific to the general, systematization, and generalization–to comprehend and interpret the obtained results, and to study the effectiveness of animation technology in the process of organizing students’ leisure time at higher education institutions.

The scientific novelty of the work lies in the comprehensive substantiation of the organizational and psychological foundations of animation activities for students in higher education institutions. The essence of sociocultural animation has been clarified as «motivation in action», which ensures the transformation of an individual’s internal motivations into socially meaningful activity. For the first time, the psychological factors motivating students to participate in animation activities (internal and external) have been systematized, and their influence on the formation of an active life stance has been substantiated. Provisions regarding the integration of animation activities into the educational process of higher education institutions through the use of innovative (interactive, digital, hybrid) forms have been further developed. The role of animation activities as a tool for psychological support of students in conditions of martial law and social crises has been clarified.

Conclusions. It has been established that student activities serve as an effective social and educational mechanism in the context of contemporary societal challenges. The most effective forms of student activities are those that combine creative, interactive, and socially oriented approaches, which help increase students’ engagement in the sociocultural life of higher education institutions.