FORMATION OF COMPETENCE OF FITNESS AND RECREATION SPECIALISTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

The relevance of the study is the challenges of the fitness industry in recent times. Having suffered significant losses due to quarantine restrictions and the continuation of military operations on the territory of Ukraine, priority directions for the development of fitness and recreation were determined. These vectors require interested organizations and heads of higher education institutions of physical culture and health profile to take into account the modern demand of the population for fitness and recreational services and to contribute to the development of a system of training relevant personnel. The purpose of this work is to study the state and modern requirements for the training of fitness and recreation specialists in higher education institutions. Methods: theoretical analysis of literary sources, questionnaires, pedagogical observations, methods of mathematical statistics. Results. According to the results of the study, regarding the determination of the professional training of masters of the Institute of Health Care, it was possible to state that only in 9.43 % of respondents found a basic level of fitness skills, 13.2 % of higher education graduates have a threshold level, and 77.37 % have not developed clear abilities for professional growth, which does not allow them to effectively carry out fitness and recreational activities. According to the results of a survey of fitness clubs administrations in Rivne and Vinnytsia, the categories of specialists that are most needed in the fitness industry today are determined:51 % are fitness trainers, 22 % – service sales manager, 21 % – marketers, 6 % are administrators. As a result, it  was possible to  establish that  the respondents give preference to a specialist with an educational and qualification level when selecting personnel: specialist junior bachelor – 24 %, bachelor – 33 %, master’s degree – 36 %, 7 % believe that the level of education is not important. In addition, the majority of respondents give preference to specialists with up to 3 years of work experience – 16 %, from 3 to 5 years – 60 %, over 10 years – 24 %. Based on the analysis of the state of training of fitness and recreation specialists, we have proposed a technology for the formation of fitness and recreation competence in future specialists. Conclusions: the state and requirements for quality training of fitness and recreation specialists to satisfy the requests of service consumers are determined.