UDC 378.23:371.3

Nechaeva O.A.¹ (Kaluga, Russian Federation) – necholgak@mail.ru

¹K.E. Tsiolkovsky Kaluga State University

Abstract.This article examines the organization of student council activities to facilitate first-year student adaptation and enhance their academic motivation in higher education. The aim of the study was to develop a model for student council activities aimed at optimizing first-year student adaptation processes and strengthening their academic motivation. The research methods utilized a theoretical analysis and systematization of scientific sources, a comparative analysis of Russian and international approaches to mentoring, student councils, and first-year student adaptation, and a method for modeling pedagogical processes. A systematic analysis of domestic and international scientific publications revealed that mentoring programs by senior students demonstrate a moderate effect on first-year students’ academic integration and motivation. However, their effectiveness is critically dependent on the organizational structure, methodological support, and the involvement of faculty. Key functions of student councils in first-year student adaptation processes are identified, including consulting, mentoring, guidance, support, and stimulation. The need for a comprehensive approach to organizing student council activities is substantiated. This approach includes mentor training, development of structured interaction programs, monitoring of adaptation processes, and evaluation of the effectiveness of these activities. Prospects for further research include conducting longitudinal experiments on large samples; developing standardized models of student council activities for various types of universities; creating programs to train student mentors; and studying the long-term effects of student council participation on the academic performance, motivational stability, and professional development of first-year students.

Keywords: student council, first-year student adaptation, academic motivation, mentoring, student government, higher education, pedagogical support, mentoring, student integration, educational activities.

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For citation: Nechaeva, O. A. (2026). Organizing the activities of student councils to adapt first-year students and increase the stability of their academic motivation. CITISE, 3, 537-545. (In Russian).