Enhancing the level of professional training of students in a university of culture through the functioning of a creative laboratory

The objective of this research is to substantiate the functioning of a creative laboratory as an effective form of enhancing the level of professional training for students in a university of culture. The article emphasizes the educational, cultural, leisure, and practical opportunities of a creative laboratory in improving the professional training of students at a university of culture. Particular attention is given to the analysis of the activities of the "School of Animators" creative laboratory of the Department of Socio-Cultural Activities at the Orel State Institute of Culture, which aims to develop organizational competencies, leadership qualities, and communication skills in students, improve their level of professional training, and ensure their active participation in the process of organizing and conducting various projects. The text provides the author's definition of the essence and content of the concept of "creative laboratory" as a relevant pedagogical phenomenon in a university of culture. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that it is the first description and analysis of the successful pedagogical practice of conducting student socio-cultural projects in the context of a creative laboratory at a university of culture. The results of the study are an analysis of the activities of the "School of Animators" creative laboratory as an effective educational platform for improving the professional training of students in a university of culture.