Social activity of student youth in the Rostov region: institutional aspects and subjective perception

Abstract

The author analyzes the features of social activity of student youth by studying the structural components: motivational, resource availability and subjective perception that are influenced by the specially created institutional conditions. Through a survey of socially active students, it is discovered that the essential idea of this activity characterized by dominating motives of the public good does not correspond to reality which is based primarily on the pragmatic motivation of the subjects of activity. It is established that the created institutional conditions form the resource availability, which is sought after by students and represented by the cultural and social capitals, and the increased expectations of converting the capitals into professional resources at the start of their career. A semi-standard in-depth interview is conducted among working youth who engage in social activity during the university course. The results of the interview indicate that the resource availability formed by the social activity remains unutilized by employers at the start of one's career. Based on the results of the interview, the author notes the contradictions of the efficient conversion of social activity into professional resources.