DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL COMPETENCIES THROUGH VOLUNTEERING: A REGIONAL ASPECT (A CASE STUDY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURYATIA)

In the context of ongoing socio-cultural transformation, volunteering is evolving beyond traditional charity and becoming a significant resource for fostering both personal and professional qualities among students. Although academic and educational interest in volunteering continues to grow, the influence of regional contexts on the development of discipline-specific competencies among future specialists — particularly in social work and psychology — remains underexplored. This study aims to identify the pedagogical conditions and functional mechanisms through which volunteer practice contributes to the formation of professional identity and personal development among students. The empirical basis of the research comprises two higher education institutions in the Republic of Buryatia: Buryat State University named after D. Banzarov (Social Work program) and the East Siberian State Institute of Culture Psychology and Social Pedagogy(program). The analysis employed methods of statistical data processing and comparative examination of student volunteer associations’ activities at these institutions. The findings indicate that when integrated into the educational environment and supported by the regional volunteering infrastructure—specifically, the “Dobrodom” Resource Center—volunteering effectively cultivates empathy, responsibility, stress resilience, as well as teamwork and project management skills. Notably, field-specific differences emerged: social work students focused on organizing practical assistance and collaborating with governmental agencies, whereas psychology students emphasized developing emotional intelligence and competencies in psychological support. The results expand theoretical understandings of professional self-determination by highlighting regional volunteering as a dual resource — both educational and socially integrative — and underscore the need for systematic pedagogical support of student volunteering initiatives within universities.

volunteering, professional competencies, personal qualities, student youth, regional development, social work, psychology, volunteer activity, educational environment, civic engagement

Yun-Khay S. A., Korotkov Y. S., Makhakova L. S. Development of professional and personal competencies through volunteering: a regional aspect (a case study of the Republic of Buryatia). Biznes. Obrazovanie. Pravo = Business. Education. Law. 2026;3(76):473—480. DOI: 10.25683/VOLBI.2026.76.1679.