Purpose of the study: The focus of the article is the problems of professional self-determination of specialists involved in the organization of socio-cultural activities and the implementation of their social objectives. The international and Russian experience in the field of these activities and its main content in modern conditions are the main points of the paper. Methodology: The paper describes the possible interrelationships of the established traditions in international and domestic socio-cultural practices and current trends in the development of socio-cultural activities. Main findings: The analysis highlights educational, creative and social technologies involving a population in active social and cultural life. Novelty/Originality of this study: Considerable attention emerges in the sphere of potential socio-cultural activities targeting the creative capacity of an individual in various spheres of life.

At the present stage a multi-level educational system allows creating favorable conditions for students’ research activities. The master’s programme is aimed at training scientific personnel ready for productive research activities in the new conditions. We substantiate the role of research work of undergraduates in development of their professional competence. The analysis of the experience in organizing the research work of the Institute of Culture and Arts master’s degree students of the Moscow State Pedagogical University, based on a practical approach to research activity, allowed us to conclude the integrated approach of the research work of “Social and Cultural Activity” department master’s degree students, that creates conditions for the implementation of our projects and a comprehensive analysis of the results obtained on the basis of theoretical and practical developments. Providing wide opportunities for scientific research of students in educational process the university promotes scientific inquiry, activation of students’ creative potential, forming skills of independent scientific research work. A competent organization of research work of students of the master’s degree helps them to master the theory, forms the qualities of the researcher, and introduces them to the future profession. Engaging of the master’s degree students in the study allows them to design their own professional activity, analyze the results of the work, motivates learning activity. Based on the analysis of the scientific activity of the students, we developed and presented recommendations on improving the research activities of students. The application of the recommendations will allow the teachers of the university to actively support the research activities of master’s degree students, develop their professional competencies, create a situation of success in the chosen professional area and predict further scientific research.