THE MAIN CHANGES OF STUDENTS’ VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN A RUSSIAN LARGE REGION (SVERDLOVSK REGION)

Pevnaya Maria1, Telepaeva Daria2*
1Dr., Ural Federal University, RUSSIA, usovet_info@mail.ru
2Mrs., Ural Federal University, RUSSIA, daria.telepaeva@gmail.com
*Corresponding Author

Abstract
This article analyzes the survey’s results of University students in the Sverdlovsk region. Compare the data of the sixth (2012) and seventh (2016) stages of sociological monitoring. Volunteering in this study explores as the civic engagement of Ural youth. The poll was conducted by questioning students 14 universities of Sverdlovsk region (N=1802; type of sample is random-stratified). The sample included 34% of men and 66% of women. The sample included students who receive education on humanitarian (40%), socio-economic (26%), science (11%), technical (28%) specialty.

In the questionnaires 2012 and 2016, respondents were asked: «Did you take part in volunteer activities in the last year? ». It has allowed to distinguish among the students of 4 groups: students without experience in volunteer activities; students accidentally took part in volunteer projects 1-2 times; the students working as volunteers from time to time (4-5 times in year); students who worked as volunteer constantly (1-2 times in month).

The respondents' answers help to assess the regularity of students’ volunteer activities from different areas of training. Monitoring data allowed to fix the increase in the share of regular working volunteers students humanitarians (29% in 2012 against 35% in 2016) and reduction among them those 1 or 2 times participated in volunteer projects. These changes are evaluated as positive as global experience shows that for a variety of professional specialties social sector, volunteering plays an important role in the professionalization of young specialists. Technology of «learning by action» is implemented in Russian universities last time. This is a very important, because such changes characterize the tendency of cooperation between higher educational institutions, organizations of the social sphere and non-profit organizations.

Significantly increased the number of those who have never been involved in volunteer projects among students of science and engineering (10% and 6% respectively). In our opinion, such changes have a direct relationship with the transformation of the educational and upbringing activities in Russian universities. The main way of higher education’s development mainly focuses on scientific development and international cooperation of universities. This trend may indicate a consequence of underestimating the educational and training functions of the University environment.
To evaluate the motives and incentives of students’ volunteer activity in the questionnaire were asked: «What conditions would you agree to become a volunteer?». Respondents could choose no more than three of the nine alternatives.

The monitoring results have allowed to record changes in the motivation of students receiving education in different areas of training.
Comparison of survey data 2012 and 2016 years demonstrated a reduction in the number of students in humanitarian, socio-economic and natural science specialties, which under no circumstances will deal with volunteering in the future. For 4 years not only has changed the number of engineering students (one in five), who are not interested in volunteering.

Communications volunteer activities with educational activities would motivate more humanities students and techies.
Increased importance of career motivation for volunteering among all students of the Middle Ural, with 7% in 2012 to 19% in 2016. Alternative to «If I helped it make a successful career» was important to 23% of engineering students (2012 – 10%), increased by 10% the number of students among the humanities (2012 - 7%, 2016 – 17%). The relationship of volunteering with career development less important for students receiving education in natural science in 2012 was 9%, and in 2016 – 12%.

External incentives – «good organization of volunteer activities and special education» – are the least important motives for technical specialties and students of natural-science direction.

Keywords: Volunteering, student volunteering, young people, civic engagement, sociological monitoring.



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CITATION: Abstracts & Proceedings of INTCESS 2017 - 4th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences, 6-8 February 2017- Istanbul, Turkey

ISBN: 978-605-64453-9-2