IMPACT OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ON DEVELOPING SOCIAL MATURITY IN MODERN STUDENTS

Abstract

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/2074-8922-2026-86-33

Purpose. The purpose of the work is to theoretically understand the role of vocational education in the formation of social maturity of modern students and determine its main structural components in the process of professional development of the individual.

Methods. To identify the degree of development of the problem, methods of theoretical analysis of scientific, psychological, pedagogical and methodological literature were used, and methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization and systematization were also applied. The methodological basis is the systemic, competency-based and personality-oriented approaches.

Results. The essence of social maturity as an integrative characteristic of the personality is revealed, the leading role of professional education in its formation is substantiated, the pedagogical potential of the educational environment of professional education institutions as a space for active social interaction is revealed, a set of pedagogical and social factors that contribute to the formation of social maturity of students is revealed, its key components have been identified, in particular the development of professional orientation, social competence, civic responsibility, value and moral orientation, communicative competence, emotional maturity, digital and media literacy, the ability to self-realize and make socially significant decisions. The importance of professional training is emphasized not only as a means of acquiring professional competencies, but also as an environment for socialization, development of responsibility, civic engagement, and readiness for independent living. It is proven that vocational education is an important social institution that ensures the formation of a socially mature personality, the integration of vocational training, practical and educational activities, social partnership contributes to the formation of stable social values and models of behavior. The conditions for the effective influence of vocational education on the formation of a socially mature personality of a student are outlined. The prospects for further scientific research in the direction of improving the social and educational component of vocational training are identified.

Conclusions. Vocational education is an important tool for the formation of social maturity of student youth, ensuring the holistic development of the personality of a future specialist. The results of the study confirm the feasibility of purposefully strengthening the social and educational component of vocational training in order to form an active, responsible and socially mature personality capable of successful self-realization in modern society.