Project as a final form of implementing research materials in a bachelor's thesis

Background. In light of contemporary educational approaches, the development of a project within the framework of a bachelor's thesis has become a necessary condition for demonstrating practice-oriented competencies of graduates. The project allows students to immerse themselves in the specifics of professional activity, express their creative and professional individuality, and offer a new methodological product to a basic organization in the social sphere – one that has undergone initial testing. The purpose of the study is to analyze the effectiveness of implementing research materials in bachelor's theses, in which the practical component is presented in the form of a social project aimed at solving the problems of a specific client group. Materials and methods. The research methodology is based on the use of project-based and competence-based approaches in preparing bachelor's students in Social Work for their professional careers. To assess the effectiveness of the project approach in the preparation of final theses, a longitudinal study was conducted. Results. The article presents a seven-year experience (2018-2024) in applying the project-based approach in bachelor's theses in Social Work. The competencies that are more successfully developed through work on a social project as part of the thesis are identified. The authors outline pedagogical conditions for preparing and defending a thesis using the project approach, including guidelines for project development, the existence of a stable list of partner organizations, and recommendations for applying the research material. Practical implications. The findings can be applied in teaching methodological project development in Social Work and in real-world cooperation with employers within the framework of bachelor's theses. The results also contribute to promoting project development and implementation as a means of solving practical tasks in the social sphere, as well as expanding cooperation with client organizations.