This article analyzes the social activities of Buddhist organizations, using the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia as an example. It argues that the social activities of religious organizations are determined by their essence as social institutions and are grounded in the fundamental principles of Buddhist teachings. The author addresses the theoretical and methodological aspects of social activities and highlights various scholarly approaches to their understanding. The first approach draws on Max Weber's approach, which views religion as an active force in social life. The second approach explores how modern representatives of the theory of religious economics consider the social activities of religious organizations as competition in the religious market. Russian researchers emphasize the importance state involvement, particularly the importance of government regulation in the social activities of religious organizations and institutions. Among other approaches, the article analyzes in some detail gift exchange theory as a basis for social activities. Although Buddhist organizations have not developed a social concept, the philosophical foundations for social activities are laid out in classical Buddhist texts. These concepts include compassion and dependent origination. The Buddhist concept of the gift, an exchange between monks and laypeople, played an important role in shaping the social activities. The article demonstrates examples of the BTSR’s social activities and highlights the importance of the educational and outreach work carried out by Buddhist monasteries. Secular and Buddhist education are becoming integrated today. Based on the analysis, the author concludes that the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia is an active participant in social activities, which is rooted in Buddhist philosophical teaching, yet adapted to modern reality.

This article examines the phenomenon of regular participation in amateur artistic activities among adults as a form of leisure, self-realization, and secondary employment. Through an analysis of biographical essays and VK profiles, the authors of this article develop a generalized profile of adults who pursue a dual career by engaging in artistic activities alongside their primary employment and during their free time. The scientific novelty lies in the examination of actors' subjective perspectives on the phenomenon under study. The article aims to identify the foundations of adult amateur artistic activity by exploring the factors that motivate individuals to engage in it, how they allocate their time compared to paid employment, and the ways in which they become involved in artistic pursuits and communities. The study identifies the factors that encourage adults to engage in regular creative leisure practices. The theoretical framework for interpreting the empirical data serves sociological, philosophical, and psychological theories of creativity and leisure.

This article presents the results of an empirical study of work culture among students in Tyumen Region. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study consists of value- based and sociocultural approaches that view work culture as a system of norms, values, and meanings constructed through the interaction of institutional models and the subjective expectations of young people, which determine their attitudes to work and shape their behavioral strategies. The empirical data were obtained through a formalized survey (n = 221) and two focus groups (N = 2), conducted from April to June 2026 among students of higher education institutions and colleges in the Tyumen Region. The study identifies an individualistic, resource-centered model of life priorities among student youth. This model prioritizes physical and mental well-being alongside self-realization. Motivational structure of career choice is characterized by a combination of substantive focus (interest in the activities, professional development) and instrumental expectations (decent income, career advancement). A content analysis of associative series reveals an ambivalence in collective perceptions of work, combining positive selfcharacteristics (responsibility, diligence) with critical assessments (laziness, irresponsibility). This reflects an internal heterogeneity of the value field of the study group. Based on an analysis of behavioral indicators (salary expectations, willingness to work overtime, spatial mobility, factors leading to dismissal), the authors propose a typology of work strategies. This typology includes strategic and involuntary unemployment, targeted, situational, and precarious employment, professional precarity, and entrepreneurial orientations.The proposed typology of work strategies reflects a subjective synthesis of societal expectations and individual life plans among youth. The study shows that most career trajectories are based on a short-term planning horizon and an adaptive, pragmatic behavior pattern. Hiring remains the primary strategy, while entrepreneurial intentions are often declarative and associated with high salary expectations focused on the high-income market segments of the labor market. The study's results contribute to the sociology of culture by clarifying how work behavior develops among students and how values and social norms influence their employment choices. The identified dynamics indicate the emergence of a new work culture, in which instrumental rationality coexists with value-based and rational guidelines of justice, dignity, and self-realization.

In the context of current geopolitical challenges, understanding how urban identity develops in Russian industrial centers has become increasingly important. A strong urban identity can influence residents’ migration intentions.

The article aims to to systematize theoretical approaches to the study of urban identity, with a particular focus on industrial cities. The study uses theoretical analysis and a review of empirical research by Russian scholars published over the past decade. We selected the studies from scientometric databases, classified them by research topic, and used a comparative approach to examine them alongside international perspectives. The study considers three main research perspectives: the sociological perspective, which focuses on identification with the urban community; the geographical and anthropological and urban studies perspectives, which focus on identification with place; and the political science perspective, which examines discourses. The cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and value-based and meaning-related components of urban identity are identified. The analysis shows a shift in the understanding of the industrial dimension of identity in industrial cities. Researchers increasingly view it not as a given characteristic but as an issue that requires purposeful transformation.

This article examines students’ participation in community-oriented projects as a mechanism of fostering social responsibility. The relevance of this study is determined by the need to involve students in tackling socially significant issues through project teams, mentoring, and social partnerships. This article aims to identify the organizational conditions and empirical relationship between participation in project activities and students’ social responsibility. The methodological foundation consists of reviewing scholarly approaches to social re-sponsibility, social project development, volunteering, community engagement, and service-learning, along with an original survey conducted with students. Empirical base of study covers 217 questionnaires from first- to third-year students. The survey includes 10 empirical indicators focusing on participation experience, motivation, perceived developmental outcomes, willingness to take responsibility for project results, understanding of social issues, civic attitudes, and the role of project activities in developing social responsibility. The results suggest that 65.9% of students participated in project activities either voluntarily on an active basis or as part of a mandatory program. Among those who participated actively, the mean score on the social responsibility index is 80.3%. Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant positive relationship between the intensity of participation in project activities and the social responsibility index (ρ = 0.375; p < 0.001). The practical importance of this study consists in identifying a mechanism where a faculty mentor and a social partner help define the social needs to address, coordinate teamwork, provide resources, and assess of the social result.

The country’s higher education system is undergoing major changes, many of which are driven by university teaching staff. Teaching staff is one of the key performance indicators in higher education and is particularly important for state accreditation and university competitiveness. Considerable attention is paid to enhancing staff competence in educational, methodological, and research activities. Thus, changes in the academic environment are increasing psychosocial risks due to the growing workload of the teaching staff. In this context, lecturer burnout has become particularly relevant. The aim of this study is to provide both theoretical and practical explanations of the factors contributing to emotional and professional exhaustion among university lecturers. These factors are quite diverse and include heavy teaching load, a growing number of duties and responsibilities, insufficient time for professional preparation, and a lack of administrative support. A survey of faculty members in the department helped to identify specific factors and manifestations contributing to the emotional exhaustion and burnout of university lecturer. The obtained data made it possible to clarify theoretical provisions and expand the understanding of the mechanisms underlying this condition.

This article examines traditional and innovative teaching methods that can enhance the university students’ cognitive activity. To achieve this aim, the author uses informal interviews with faculty. The study examines expert educational practices aimed at increasing students’ motivation to learn. Researcher focuses on contemporary methods that faculty uses most often in their daily teaching practice. The results of the study identify the most effective teaching methods in lectures and seminars. The article concludes that both traditional and innovative methods can increase students’ motivation to learn, improve the quality of higher education, and support students in adapting to the educational environment.

The article examines the socio-demographic specifics of the perception of fatherhood in contemporary Russia. The relevance of this study arises from the transformation of the institution of the family, shifts in the gender division of parental labor, and the increasing emphasis on engaged fatherhood as a priority of state demographic policy. This work analyzes differences in perceptions of how difficult it is to be a father and in views of the ideal father depending on respondents' gender, age, and educational background. The empirical base consists of data from a nationwide telephone survey by VCIOM (N=1 600, December 2025). The study applies methods for secondary data analysis, including contingency tables, Pearson’s chi-square test, Student t-test, and Cramér's V. The results show that two-thirds of respondents consider fatherhood to be a rather difficult role. The most positive perceptions are characteristic of the 29–33 age group. Meanwhile, women are most optimistic at ages 24–28, while men are most optimistic at ages 29–33. The image of a good father includes both traditional compo-nents (financial support, protection, and authority) and recent ones (emotional closeness and involvement in childrearing). Among women, this image is associated with the emotional component and instrumental functions, whereas men more often emphasize status-related and normative aspects. Educational background also shapes perceptions of fatherhood. Respondents with lower education levels often prioritize the father’s physical presence in daily family life. Respondents with higher education levels place greater emphasis on interactional quality and emotional engagement. The results indicate the heterogeneity of normative expectations. The practical significance of this work is that its results can serve to develop measures of support for fatherhood.

This article discusses the pilgrimage through the experience of Russian Muslims living in Tyumen Region. This study draws on empirical data collected by the author as part of the project “Hajj as a sociocultural phenomenon of Islam.” This topic is particularly relevant in the context of the current Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. The article aims to preserve and strengthen traditional Russian spiritual and moral values among Russians of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, including spirituality, strong family ties, mercy, justice, and mutual respect, which are passed from one generation to the next. The article shows that Hajj, like pilgrimage in general, has all the key features of a religious ritual. It includes preparation (learning the rituals, memorizing prayers, and purchasing appropriate clothing); the journey itself; performing rituals at holy sites (the Kaaba, Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah); and returning home with a renewed sense of self. During this journey, a person performing Hajj temporarily steps outside their usual social connections, responsibilities, and roles, becoming open to new knowledge, personal transformation, and healing. The most interesting part of the article is the results of the research, which included a questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews, and a media study. Using the pilgrims' narratives as an example, the article describes the environment in which the religiosity of Tyumen Muslims developed and examines how religious foundations and experience may be transmitted to believers (including young generation), who may undertake the pilgrimage to the holy sites of Saudi Arabia (Mecca and Medina), in the future. As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, Hajj plays a crucial role in this process. Participants recalled their childhoods, the spiritual atmosphere in their home, and family traditions. They spoke about their conversion to Islam, their experience of performing the Hajj, the changes they felt afterward, as well as about sociocultural role of the Hajj in the life of the Muslim community, and shared their plans for the future. A media study measuring the frequency of the Hajj in Russian regions revealed that mentions were higher in traditionally Muslim republics than in predominantly non-Muslim areas like the Tyumen Region. However, due to their population size, megacities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg showed the highest absolute mention counts. At the same time, megacities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg lead in the number of references to Hajj.