On 25 June, Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture hosted the 15th International Scientific and Practical Conference, “Challenges of Promoting Recreational and Health-Enhancing Activities among the Population,” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the University and the 30th anniversary of the Department of Fitness and Recreation.
The conference was moderated by Professor Liubov Chekhovska, Doctor of Sciences in Physical Education and Sport and Head of the Department of Fitness and Recreation. In her opening remarks, she presented the history of the Department, which was established in 1996 as the Department of Recreation and Health-Enhancing Physical Culture under the leadership of Professor Olha Zhdanova. In 2013, the Department adopted its current name, Department of Fitness and Recreation, and the University launched its Master’s programme in the field. Since 2023, the University has offered the educational programme Fitness and Recreation, while since 2025 students have also been enrolled in the Health and Sports Fitness programme.
Professor Chekhovska highlighted the Department’s major achievements in education, research, and academic staff development. Since its establishment, the Department has successfully supervised 12 PhD dissertations, while the scientific conference, first launched in 1998, has evolved into an internationally recognized forum for discussing current issues in recreation and health-oriented fitness.
The proceedings of the 15th anniversary conference included scientific papers submitted by 150 authors representing 32 higher education institutions from Ukraine and abroad.
The participants were welcomed by Professor Marian Pityn, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and International Relations of Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture; Roman Khimiak, Director of the Department of Sports, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration; Professor Oleksandra Blahii of the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport; Professor Kateryna Mulyk, Head of the Department of Health, Fitness and Recreation at Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture; and Associate Professor Nataliia Semal, Head of the Department of Physical Education at Uzhhorod National University.
During the plenary session, participants presented research addressing current trends in health-oriented fitness, recreation, and physical activity promotion. Among the keynote presentations, Myroslav Dutchak and Halyna Putiatina examined the role of social dialogue in shaping the labour market for the fitness and sports sector, while Myroslav Haleta presented research findings on differentiated approaches to designing group strength-training fitness programmes for women with different levels of physical fitness.
Particular interest was generated by the international presentations delivered by Professor Simona Pajaujienė (Lithuanian Sports University), Professor Rita Santos-Rocha (Polytechnic University of Santarém, Portugal), Professor Miguel Oviedo-Caro (University of Seville, Spain), and Anna Szumilewicz (Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, Poland). Their presentations focused on a European educational programme promoting physical activity during pregnancy.
Professors Jorge Both and Veronica Gabriela Silva Piovani (Western Paraná State University, Brazil) presented the findings of their research on factors influencing clients’ evaluation of services provided by modern fitness centres.
The conference also featured presentations by young researchers and academic staff of the University. Vitalii Korotych, a PhD student at the Department of Fitness and Recreation, introduced a health-oriented strength-training programme designed for adult men in early middle age. Professor Iryna Hrybovska presented research findings on the effects of yoga practice on women’s physical health and fitness.
The 15th International Scientific and Practical Conference once again demonstrated the strong research potential of the Department of Fitness and Recreation. It provided an important platform for exchanging contemporary scientific ideas, strengthening international academic cooperation, and identifying future directions for the development of recreation, health promotion, and health-oriented fitness.
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