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Вузовская психологическая служба: социальные ожидания и институциональные вызовы на пути устойчивого развития
This study describes findings concerning social expectations held by university leaders and psychology service professionals regarding the need and efficacy of psychological support in higher education. It highlights both alignments and discrepancies in perceptions related to the impact of psychological services on achieving university objectives, demand for such aid, and psychologists’ professional skills. The alignment of the positions of “agents of influence and demand” (“supervising” and “non-supervising” vice-rectors) and “support forces” (university psychologists) was considered a necessary condition for the successful institutionalization of the psychological service as an integral part of the university structure. The sociological survey involved 241 respondents – vice-rectors supervising and not supervising the organization of psychological service, as well as heads or specialists of the psychological service – from 170 universities, which represents 38% of the target population. According to the data obtained, absolute unanimity was recorded among all respondent categories regarding the demand for psychological assistance within the higher education system. At the same time, vice-rectors express significant negative assessments of the industry competence of some psychologists and their predominant orientation toward their own professional interests. The main institutional challenges limiting the establishment of the university psychological service were identified and named as industry indifference, mismatch between competencies and tasks, absence of industry context, professional egoism and industry negativism. A conclusion is made about the critical importance of alignment between the positions of vice-rectors and psychologists for the successful institutionalization of psychological assistance within the higher education system.