Physical Activity as a Means of Enhancing Students' Academic Performance

Abstract

This publication addresses the issue of improving the educational system's performance by increasing the academic success of students in higher education institutions through physical activity. The relevance of this scientific problem is extremely high. In the current reality, ensuring a proper quality of education is of paramount importance for Ukraine. The educational system provides the state and society with qualified professional personnel. From the defense sector to healthcare, there is a need for well-prepared professionals. Given this situation, the issue of high-quality student training, who will meet the labor market demand in the future, is particularly pressing. It is also important to note the significant negative impact of the trend of a substantial number of skilled and able-bodied individuals leaving Ukraine. Furthermore, a large number of highly qualified professionals from various fields have been mobilized into the Defense Forces. The labor market currently experiences a shortage in a number of professions. These factors heighten the relevance of the discussed issue. It is also worth noting that at the time of this publication, the higher education system is undergoing reforms. The optimization of the network of higher education institutions is taking place, which may lead to various negative phenomena in the education system for an indefinite period, caused by changes in curricula, personnel, and administrative restructuring in educational institutions, among other factors. It is essential to consider this contemporary challenge. In this regard, developing methods to enhance students' academic performance through all available means is an important task for the educational system. Mass physical activity among students is one of the most effective methods within this problem area. In fact, the main goal of this publication is to demonstrate that systematic physical activity, given the mass involvement of student youth, has significant potential as a tool for improving academic performance in higher education institutions. Systematic physical activity helps combat the negative effects of stress, which adversely affects students' academic activities. Additionally, regular physical exertion has been observed to positively impact cognitive abilities, which is also significant in the context of this publication. However, it is noted that the outlined issue remains a field for extensive scientific and pedagogical work, as the direct impact of regular physical activity on students' academic success is not sufficiently studied, especially in the context of Ukrainian scientific research.