Volunteering Of University Students As A Resource For The Development Of Higher Education

Abstract

Historically volunteerism in Russia has traditionally developed in the system of higher education. Nowadays Russian universities' scientific potential is becoming more active due to the changing of the educational processes. Despite the fact that self-government bodies, business as well as academic mobility and local communities stimulate university community, social mission of the higher education is being replaced with pragmatic goals. Whereas university community's initiative is gaining value, universities overall program is formed under the guidance of innovation and commercialization. Meanwhile the popularization of volunteerism among younger generations as a trend is reflected in support provided to organized youth groups that often function in universities and colleges. The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of volunteerism on the scientific activity of Russian university students and their innovative potential. The report presents the data of a survey of students of the Urals Federal District which was realized in 2017. The method of correlation analysis is applied. The following research solves such tasks as the evaluation of dependence of the self-assessment of the innovative culture on the degree of the Ural macroregion’s students’ involvement in volunteer activity. The specificity of the involvement of student volunteers in the innovative and scientific activity of the university is determined.

Keywords: Volunteeringstudent volunteeringinnovative youth activityuniversity management

Introduction

Russian universities are in an active phase of reforming. There are changes in the organization of the educational process. The scientific potential is becoming more active. The interaction of the university community with the external environment is stimulated with local communities, self-government bodies, business and other universities. However, the social mission of higher education is being replaced by pragmatic goals. Universities are guided by innovation, commercialization of scientific research. The initiative of teachers and students is gaining value.

At the same time, a powerful campaign for the popularization of volunteerism is taking place throughout the country. As in many developed countries, resources are allocated for systemic state support for the activities of volunteers in all spheres of society. The main focus is on the younger generation. In this direction, support is provided to organized youth groups, usually functioning in the context of Russian universities and colleges. In Russia, volunteerism has traditionally developed in the system of higher education.

Problem Statement

In modern conditions in universities there is a need for young people, who have innovative potential and entrepreneurial activity. People who are able to set goals and achieve them are in demand. There is a need for young people who are hardworking, know how to do their job, and have soft skills at the same time. It is these characteristics that are given to those who have experience of volunteer activity. However, in the new economic realities of Russian universities, organizations pay much less attention to student’s volunteering than before.

Research Questions

The first research task is connected with the assessment of the innovative potential of students from the universities of the Russian macroregion.

To solve this problem it is important to answer this questions:

• Does participation in volunteer activities influence the self-esteem of students in relation to their innovative culture?

• Is there a correlation between the involvement of students in volunteerism and their participation in innovative projects that are being implemented in their universities?

The second research task is connected with the evaluation of the scientific activity of students-volunteers from the universities of the Russian macroregion.

To solve this problem it is important to answer the question:

• Does participation in volunteer activities influence their participation in research projects of the university?

• What forms of research work are preferred for student volunteers?

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of volunteerism on the scientific activity of Russian university students and their innovative potential.

Research Methods

The article is based on the materials of a survey of students based in the Urals Federal District. The general population included 51 universities. In the course of the study a quota sample was implemented. It was formed on the basis of statistical data on the number of students in the regions of the federal district (Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen, Kurgan regions, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug). Within each region, quotas were applied in different areas of training (engineering, science, humanitarian, socio-economic). We used the public information posted on the websites of universities. The total sample size was 1860 students. Students of 3-4 courses were interviewed.

The following research solves such tasks as the evaluation of dependence of the self-assessment of the innovative culture on the degree of the Ural macroregion’s students’ involvement in volunteer activity. The specificity of the involvement of student volunteers in the innovative and scientific activity of the university is determined.

In order to assess the innovative potential of student volunteers four dichotomous questions were asked: "Did you participate in the development of innovative projects for the social sphere?", "Did you participate in the development of projects for the business sphere?", "Did you participate in the development of innovative projects for the management sphere?", "Did you participate in the development of innovative scientific projects?". In addition, students were asked to assess the level of their innovative culture. Respondents could choose from four alternative answers: high, medium, low, or difficult to answer. "

To study the scientific activity of students, their answers to the closed question: "Do you participate in research activities?" was analyzed. Respondents could choose the answer from three alternatives: "I constantly take part," "I participate situationally," "I do not participate." The next question was: "In what forms do you participate in scientific research?". It presupposed a choice of 5 alternatives: "I participated in the scientific projects of my faculty, department"; "I work in scientific projects in the framework of educational activity under the guidance of my scientific adviser"; "I work on my own initiative"; "I participate in the collective project of a scientific foundation with grant support," "I participate in research commissioned by the authorities." The study analyzed only the answers of those respondents who claimed to have experience in research and development.

The method of correlation analysis is applied. The answers to the questions of students with different degrees of involvement in volunteering (from regular activities to one-time participation) and those with no volunteer experience were evaluated. To assess the involvement of students in volunteering during the period of study at the university, the question was asked in the questionnaire: "Have you had to volunteer in the last three years?" Respondents could choose the answer from the four proposed alternatives: "Yes, I constantly work as a volunteer (at least once a month)"; "Yes, from time to time I participate in volunteer projects (3-5 times a year)"; "I participated accidentally 1-2 times".

Findings

45% of students who study at universities on 3-4 courses who answered the question asked in the questionnaire do not have experience in volunteering projects. 28% participated in volunteerism 1-2 times, from time to time - 18% of respondents, 9% of students volunteer regularly. Thus, during the period of study at the university, almost every second student was involved in this or that volunteer practice.

Conclusion

The study made it possible to evaluate volunteerism as a predicate of Russian students' innovative and scientific activity. The volunteer experience acquired in the student years and the degree of involvement in volunteer projects affect students' self-esteem in relation to their predisposition to the understanding of innovations and their readiness to produce them. It seems to us that this effect is an obvious consequence of the fact that volunteerism determines the development of young people's social self-confidence and critical thinking skills, which is confirmed by a number of sociological studies (Handy, 2010).

The study revealed the relationship between students' volunteer experience and indicators of their involvement in interaction with stakeholders through the participation in innovative projects that are implemented by commercial enterprises and NGOs. It seems to us that social capital of volunteering plays a special role here, allowing young people who have experience in social projects to communicate easily with the representation of different social groups. In addition, student volunteers are open to the external initiatives of innovative transformation that go far beyond the university environment. The orientation of student volunteers to a broader field of social interactions is confirmed by the evaluation of their scientific activity, namely, by more expressed indices of independence and initiative in scientific research. Students who volunteer are active both within their university and in the wider community (Cnaan, 2010). Perhaps, our data prove that students with the experience of volunteering can indirectly become participants of integrate structural arrangements and instructional practices with local employers and higher education institutions (Kuo, 2010).

To sum up, this paper contributes to the growing number of literature on the consequences of volunteerism for students and for higher education in Russia. As a limit of the study, it could be the fact that the research was conducted only in the universities of one large industrial region of the country. Perhaps, if within the framework of this research's logic volunteer students from other Russian regions or other countries are interviewed, another picture can be obtained due to several differences in the sociocultural environment, economic and political conditions.

It seems to us, that according to the results of the research, there are a number of important issues that require further study. Is the involvement of students in innovative projects and scientific activities effective for universities and students themselves? Russian universities, like all other world universities, are interested not in the process, but in the results, namely, in scientific publications, patents and contracts. There is a risk that the involvement and orientation of student volunteers in different types of group activity can work as a massive involvement in the project activity without expected positive consequences for the development of the university and its promotion

In addition, in our opinion, it is extremely important to study the personality characteristics of student volunteers in the context of their correspondence to the profile of the innovator and entrepreneur. Summarizing the characteristics of volunteers and innovators, we can conclude that there are many similar personal traits. They are characterized by the value of independence, benevolence and universalism. Innovators are distinguished by a high educational level and active participation in additional education activities. They are less guided in their actions by the desire to receive and retain power, not based on their own achievements (Queen, 2015). Sociological research proves that the higher the person's level of education is, the more likely that this person will be engaged in volunteering.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research № 16-03-00016-ОГН.

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