Implementation of the Social Component of Higher Education: Bottom-up Approach

Abstract

Pedagogical strategies for the implementation of the social content of higher education should be exercised through the application of the bottom-up approach. The bottom-up approach is aimed at ensuring proper development of the student’s personality. This approach is based on the subject-specific (academic achievements) and generic (leadership, management skills and focus on personal and professional development) competencies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the range of tools as well as the effectiveness of the bottom-up approach to the implementation of the social component of higher education through perspective development and the emphasis on students’ leadership and management skills. The study is of an empirical nature and the research component is based on the formative experimental methodology. Fifteen students of the Faculty of Primary Education participated in the experimental part of the study. They were involved in the specific bottom-up approach to educational environment organization and were evaluated accordingly by a jury. The two-year implementation period of the bottom-up approach to the implementation of the social content of higher education took place through customized projects of personal and professional development. The average socialization readiness level within the group was 78.2 (out of 100 max.), with 13.3% of students showing an average socialization readiness level, and 86.7% of students achieving a good level. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the principal notions of the study. The task of adapting the content of higher education in order to achieve a positive momentum of students’ socialization readiness was successfully completed. The most promising approach for future research is finding out the advisability and effectiveness of expanding the range of participants of the projects of personal and professional self-development and leadership with the preservation of the essence and identified values of the bottom-up approach.