Prospects for the Development of Phygital Technologies in University Education

The use of phygital technologies and their implementation into the educational process, including physical education, can be seen as the most promising trajectory for the future of higher education. It should be stated that this process is complicated by the current absence of scientific methods recognized by the professional community that could be used to optimize the combination of intellectual and physical training for phygital athletes. The aim of the study is to analyze the possibilities of incorporating digital technologies into university instructional processes taking into account student interests and the current methodological and technological assistance. A survey of Tomsk’s “Big University” students was conducted to identify the level of interest in and awareness of the emergence and future possibilities of phygital technologies among young people. The study included 148 students from various fields of study and courses. An expert survey of physical education department directors and teachers at Tomsk’s “Big University” was also conducted. Based on the results of the surveys, we can infer that the primary purpose of further development in this direction should be the organization of events aimed at increasing young people’s awareness of the subject matter and possibilities of digital sports, including phygital sports. Currently, young people’s awareness is below average, which reduces their level of interest in this field. Students are uninformed of the possibilities of digital sports; therefore, most do not see reasons for including these practices in their courses of education. At the same time, given the considerable potential of digital sports for the training of professionals in a variety of disciplines such as economics, science, education, and sports, we believe it is crucial to maintain the active promotion of digital opportunities among young people. The digitization process presently enables us to significantly expand the educational environment and optimize the training process. The use of phygital technologies in a university’s educational process will enable the integration of educational tracks related to the formation of general cultural knowledge, primarily related to physical education, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and professional skills’ it will also increase interest among young people in physical activities, sports, and health advancement. Today, the most essential need is to inform students on the essence and content of digital technologies, and to form students’ ideas on the topic and the potential applications in educational programs. Simultaneously, the need to develop methodological approaches that take into account student interests, professional characteristics, and educational institution capabilities while integrating digital technologies into the educational process is becoming more pressing. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.