EXPERIENCE OF ORGANIZING AND IMPLEMENTING CAREER GUIDANCE ACTIVITIES DURING WARTIME IN A FRONTLINE CITY

Abstract

The article highlights the multidimensional significance of career guidance activities in educational institutions located in the frontline regions of Ukraine during the full-scale war. Under such circumstances, career guidance serves not only as a tool for professional self-determination of school youth but also as an essential means of socio-psychological support, patriotic education, and the development of inner resilience. Emphasis is placed on the fact that in conditions of uncertainty
and constant threat, career guidance enables young people to see prospects, plan their future, and remain emotionally resilient.
The study analyzes the key functions of career guidance: reducing anxiety, developing life and communication skills, supporting mental health, preserving the educational potential of frontline areas, as well as countering migration sentiments and the “brain drain.” Special emphasis is placed on the patriotic component of career guidance, which fosters in students a sense of responsibility for the fate of their country and an awareness of the importance of their personal contribution to its reconstruction.
The focus is on the experience of Kharkiv National Medical University and the faculty of the Department of Medical and Bioorganic Chemistry, who systematically and purposefully implement career guidance initiatives adapted to wartime conditions. The article highlights examples of activities conducted: online and in-person meetings with students of Kharkiv lyceums, introductory lectures, educational and professional first aid training sessions, and interactive discussions on healthy lifestyles.
The importance of involving KNMU students in these activities is emphasized, as it ensures a dialogical approach, fosters trust between educational institutions, and contributes to building a positive image of the medical university.
In conclusion, it is proven that career guidance activities in frontline conditions are not merely educational work but a strategic tool for national recovery. They contribute to raising a generation capable not only of choosing a profession but also of consciously building the future of their country.