The Department of Physical Education originated at Teacher Training Institute in October 1943. Then the Faculty of Sport and Physical Training (1956) opened, it became its educational, scientific and methodological starting line-up. Greater university scales and increased number of enrolled students required transforming the department into three new ones: Department of Sport and Sport Games, Department of Gymnastics and Physical Education and Department of Sport and Physical Education. The curricula focus of these departments was varying, so that the first two trained mainly professional athletes, and the latter trained other faculties in PE.

Nowadays, the department delivers such disciplines as Physical Training and Applied Physical Training to Bachelor’s, Specialist’s and Master’s degree students in teacher training, translation studies, journalism, psychology, social studies and others. In addition to teaching, the department is engaged in promoting sports at the university. Its staff oversee sport clubs in skiing, volleyball, basketball, speed skating, track-and-field athletics, etc. They also encourage students to participate in different regional, national and even international competitions. Its staff also participate in refereeing different competitions.

The department arranges mass sport and health events and sports competitions for schoolchildren, students and staff (Runner’s Day, Fresher Cross-Country Race, University Track-and-Field Relay Race, Russian Ski Run). In 1960, it became one of the initiators and organisers of now annual ski campaign in the districts of the Penza Region. It has become a good tradition (since 1976) to hold health events among teaching and administrative staff of the university.

In recent years, the main research interest of the department lies in studying influence of physical education and healthy lifestyle on mental performance of students. In addition, several staff members are engaged in developing physical culture and health technologies for education and rehabilitation of disabled people. The department also provides methodological assistance to employees of educational institutions of various levels.

RESEARCH

Research topics

•    Physical fitness related to intellectual work performance
•    Effective strategies of physical education for people with reduced physical abilities
•    Student health monitoring
•    Physical fitness programmes for rehabilitation of disabled people
•    Interdisciplinary research in physical education
•    Self-guided learning principles and techniques for students

Collaboration

Russian State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism

CONTACTS

Dr. Irina Kiryukhina
Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor
Head of the Department of Physical Education

37 Lermontova Street, building 14
Tel: +7 (8412) 64-39-25
E-mail: fv@pnzgu.ru
Web-page of the Department of Physical Education (in Russian)