Creating a health-preserving social environment at the university by means of the functioning of Physical Education and Sports Department

The paper substantiates the importance of the problem of determining educational tools aimed at the health protection of student youth, and proves that the role of one of these tools is the health-saving environment of the university. The views of scientists on the concept of «health-saving environment» are given, attention is focused on its social aspect and the need to create a health-saving social environment at the university is indicated. It is substantiated that approaches to building a health-saving social environment of the university are personality-oriented ones. They are considered to be activity approaches: personality-oriented approach contributes to the formation of a conscious attitude towards health as a value among students; activity approach ensures the development of students’ skills and abilities to implement a healthy lifestyle. The role of Physical Education and Sports Department in creating a health-saving social environment of the university is revealed. The model of functioning of Physical Education and Sports Department is presented; it determines the main directions of activity of the staff of the department, in order to create and improve the health-saving social environment of the university. The content of the four leading activities of Physical Education and Sports Department, focused on creating a health-saving social environment of the university, is revealed: 1) educational and methodological work; 2) research work; 3) sports work; 4) health-improving and educational work.