The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in the field of higher education during 2020–2021 all over the world. The move of higher educational institutions to remote learning has become quite a challenge for all the participants in the educational process. Modernization, reform of health care and medical education require the updating and improvement of the quality of the education in higher medical institutions in Ukraine in an effort to train highly qualified future professionals with a high level of professional knowledge, skills and abilities, creative thinking, better human qualities, national consciousness. A major role in achieving changes for the better belongs to the lecturer of the educational institution, as the professionalism of the future physician and scientist depends on the lecturer’s potential, professionalism, modernity, mobility and ability to motivate and understand the desires of modern graduates. The aim of the research is to identify and justify current requirements and challenges for lecturers of a higher medical educational institution in the conditions of COVID-19 pandemic. We have distinguished the major most important areas of activity of the lecturer of a higher medical educational institution: professional-pedagogical, educational-methodical, scientific research and educational activity. We have revealed the current requirements and challenges for the lecturer of higher educational institution, which include: mastery of the latest techniques of teaching and learning, fluency in a foreign language, ability to use innovative computer technology, high stress resistance, virtuous dedication, desire to enrich and update their knowledge, successfully combine their general cultural qualities with professional ones, to cultivate in themselves the qualities, which they wish to form in the student. Particular attention should be paid to such a requirement for the lecturer as respect for the students, for their modern views, their opinions without violating the principles of conformity and integrity. The lecturer must become an authority for the student, an example to follow in professional activities and social life.
At the present stage of development of higher medical education, the teacher of a higher educational institution has a great responsibility - the training and formation of a highly moral and educated person - a future qualified medical specialist. The activity of a modern high school teacher is quite complex and multifaceted. Society always considers the activities of the teacher as a mission, and to his personality - makes special moral and ethical requirements. Human activity is a conscious task that encompasses a system of actions aimed at achieving a goal. The conscious nature of human activity is manifested in its planning, prediction of results, regulation of actions, and the desire for improvement. In view of this, it should be noted that the modern teacher must not only be adapted to rapid social, economic, ideological changes, but also be able to analyze contemporary processes, predict their development, outline ways of further transformation.
Conclusions. Modernization of education is quite complex and specific, so it requires special knowledge, skills, abilities and patience. Therefore, in the person of a teacher who should be a mentor, students can gain a sufficient level of knowledge and practical skills, get answers to all their questions for further self-improvement. The teacher's understanding of these changes, which requires the transition of the educational process from the national orientation of higher education to European, is extremely important for both, for the teacher and the student, as well as for the higher education institution and for the country as a whole.
MOTIVATION AS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE ACADEMIC ACTIVITY OF A MODERN STUDENT
