A Space for Self-Discovery and Professional Growth: Results of the Life Coaching Research and Practice Group

Based on the results of the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, the activities of the research and practice group «Life Coaching: Technologies for Self-Discovery and Successful Self-Realization» (headed by Nadiia Dira, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy) have become a valuable space for participants to deeply reflect on themselves, their values, and life strategies. Here, scientific rigor organically blends with a modern vision for the personal and professional development of future educators.

Throughout a series of sessions, participants explored their own behavioral patterns, mastered tools for self-discovery, reflection, and self-regulation, and learned to consciously formulate goals and plan the steps toward their realization. Significant attention was paid to analyzing personal resources and internal limitations within educational, professional, and personal spheres, as well as developing accountability for one’s own decisions and life choices.

The group’s work was structured as a holistic educational and research environment where scientific inquiry was seamlessly integrated with the practical significance of the results. Participants did not merely familiarize themselves with theoretical approaches but also learned to apply them to analyze their own experiences, professional situations, and current educational challenges. Each activity was methodically calculated and aimed at developing reflective thinking, autonomy, and the professional responsibility of future teachers.

The combination of individual and group reflection allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of their own experiences, values, and professional orientations while aligning them with the experiences of others. This format fostered skills in reasoned dialogue, the acceptance of diverse perspectives, and the realization of oneself as part of a professional community. The creation of a safe and supportive environment served as a key condition for openness, trust, and a readiness to experiment without fear of error – an essential prerequisite for profound personal and professional growth.

The mid-year summary of the group’s work should be viewed not as a conclusion, but as a point of growth that outlines new horizons for self-realization for both undergraduate and graduate students of the Faculty of Psychological and Pedagogical Education and Arts. The acquired knowledge, developed reflective skills, and experience in collaborative work create a solid foundation for further professional development, the deepening of scientific interests, and the conscious construction of one’s own pedagogical trajectory. In this lies the value of the group as a space for continuous development, where every step becomes a starting point for new meanings, decisions, and opportunities.

Based on materials by Nadiia Dira