Axiological measurements of the educational potential of value-oriented disciplines in higher education

Valentyna Kuryliak
Abstract

The study addressed the educational potential of value-oriented academic disciplines (VOAD) in the context of higher education institutions with religious founders. The study aimed to substantiate the educational potential of value-oriented disciplines in higher education institutions and to determine their role in shaping the moral and civic values of young students. The study revealed the essence of the educational potential of value-oriented disciplines as an integral characteristic of the educational process, which ensures not only the transmission of knowledge, but also the transformation of the student’s worldview based on Christian anthropology and the principle of “human as the image of God”. The study analysed two key dimensions of the realisation of this potential, namely, worldview, which involved the formation of a holistic Christian view of the world in which science and faith were seen as complementary ways of cognition, and professional activity, focused on education through the concept of servant leadership and the principles of professional ethics. The study emphasised the practical significance of such disciplines for improving the quality of life of students, their therapeutic function, and the development of soft skills and emotional intelligence. The study also critically examined the potential risks of implementing this system, in particular the danger of indoctrination and the problem of the so-called greenhouse effect when graduates encounter the realities of secular society. The necessity of balancing value formation and the development of autonomous critical thinking as a condition for the mature personal and professional identity of graduates was substantiated. The proposed approach addressed VOAD as a tool not only for education but also for preparing students for responsible public service in a pluralistic environment. The results of the study can be used in the development and improvement of educational programmes in higher education institutions focused on the integration of the value and academic dimensions of education

Keywords

Christian anthropology; integration of faith and learning; servant leadership; worldview; professional ethics; soft skills

Suggested citation
Kuryliak, V. (2026). Axiological measurements of the educational potential of value-oriented disciplines in higher education. Humanities Studios: Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, 14(2), 7-16. https://doi.org/10.31548/hspedagog/2.2026.07
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