Labor pedagogy as an important educational specialty at the Higher School of Pedagogy in Opole and the University of Opole

Abstract

The paper shows the product life cycle at the University of Opole (UO) under the name of the speciality: “Pedagogy of work” conducted at the Peda- gogical Faculty at the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences. Ten problem-research areas of labour pedagogy, outlined in 1972 as the Tasks of the Institute of Vo- cational Education, expanded by one in 2004 and two in 2008, inspired the scientists of Opole University to take up this research issue. The research made it possible to present the vitality and the functioning of the specialty during the period of the university’s existence, and even earlier at the Higher School of Pedagogy in Opole. The above factors were the cause of a noticeable gra - dient in the growth of its life cycle since its birth, while in the second decade of the 21st century, an antigradient became apparent, caused, in the author’s opinion, primarily by the lack of interest of students to acquire knowledge in this area, although the reasons for this situation could be different. Several hundred specialists in labour pedagogy have graduated from the University of Opole, taking up challenges in various branches of the economy, both in the domestic and international markets.