Historical and Paradigmatic Development of Educational Processes in Ukraine: Author’s Substantiation

The process of higher education development in Ukraine of the 19 – beginning of 21 century in the unity of academic, professionally oriented, vocationally-technological and humanitarian paradigmatic directions is founded. Major trends and characteristics of each of them are identified. It is proved that modern humanitarian pedagogical paradigm does not cancel the previous paradigms but ensures their implementation on a qualitatively new level. The development of higher education doesn’t occur in terms of leveling and replacement of existing paradigmatic direction by another one, but in the context of their coexistence, and in the condition of each next paradigm dominance on a new stage of society development.

Multiculturalism and Educational Change. An Attempt at a Model Approach

The everyday life of the young generation is to a large extent determined by cultural differences of different origin. Hence the challenge for the education which in its traditional form is not capable of coping with multiculturalism with all its attributes. The need for changes stems from, inter alia, the cultural diversity of societies as a result of migration, in relation to which integration is highlighted as an important process in the construction of the intercultural space of a multicultural society. Therefore, the cultural differentiation of the society, integration and the search for socio-cultural synergy all create a need for education that would equip the young generation, having different cultural self-identifications, with the desired social, civic and intercultural competences. The paper proposes a model approach to education focussed on such issues.

Contemporary Intercultural and Ethnic Views of Ukrainian Youth Student About the Poles

In the context of intensification of Europe's migration processes at the beginning of the 21st century, intercultural communication of people resulted in readjustment of traditional systems of their norms and values; new values are being shaped while traditional ones are losing their dominant status. It is deemed necessary to shape a new cross-border and multicultural identity in the younger generations in order to prepare them to life in various cultural environments. A new standard of cultural awareness is to prevent possible effects of cultural shock, minimize such negative attitudes as national and racial prejudice. The objective of the paper is to outline results of the massive survey which involved students of higher educational institutions as well as senior students of secondary education institutions in Ukraine. The survey reflects the latest ethnic and intercultural ideas (representations) and values of Ukrainian youth, in particular their attitudes to the Poles as a separate nation and a close neighbour or ethnic minority residing in Ukraine.

Personal Knowledge: Its Nature and Varieties

As a result of the rapid pace of economic and technological development, previously recognised competences have proved outdated and the demand for new competences has increased. In order to effectively function in the changing realities and to efficiently use both one’s own resources and those of the environment, one needs access to information and knowledge. Contemporary concepts of knowledge emphasise that knowledge is abruptly expanding and, thus, that it is exigent to continually analyse, evaluate and organise knowledge. Therefore, the fostering of attitudes of commitment to knowledge not only among young learners but above all among adults is prerequisite for the further development of knowledge, its high quality and continued relevance. Given this, education, guidance and counselling facilities must dedicate themselves to supporting their clients in taking responsibility for their ow knowledge. Additionally, the role and significance of knowledge in the prosperity of individuals, organisations and entire societies are increasing, as knowledge is becoming a valuable resource (capital) which is subject to management processes. This position is adopted and developed by the modern concept of knowledge management (Nonaka & Konno, 1998) and its latest iteration, i.e. personal knowledge management. Replete with educational merits, the latter concept is explored in my paper in the context of changes in conceptualising what knowledge actually is.

Czech National Identity and the Elements Through Which is Constructed

National identity is still one of the common components of identity of (post) modern people. The image of national identity is always country-specific, but individual national identities can share the same elements - for example they are associated with certain historical events related to national history, or are associated with national personalities. How the Czech national identity looks like may be by its owners more or less consciously formulated or implicit awareness. Some national and international research surveys are devoted to the topic of Czech national identity and bring partial findings concerning this phenomenon. However, a comprehensive overview of which specific elements constitute the Czech national identity and which thus contribute to its construction and reconstruction is missing in the literature. The aim of the study is therefore to find out and describe which elements constructing national identity are used in the concept of contemporary Czech national identity. The study will then use elements constructing the Czech national identity to create a coding key that, by categorizing the elements involved in the process of construction of the Czech national identity, will not only name and describe this identity, but also investigate it in more detail in future research surveys.

The Ukrainian Education in Galicia (1919–1939): A Search for an Ideal

The theoretical principles of the national education of children and students in the Ukrainian pedagogy of Galicia during 1918–1939 are scrutinized in the article. The approaches of the Ukrainian educators to the educational ideal, the purpose, content and tasks of the national education have been systematized. The focus on the national values (the national idea, the national unity, the national self-esteem, the national awareness), which are not innate but are formed in the process of the personal development and gaining the social experience on a qualitatively new content of education, in which the national and universal values are closely intertwined. The basis of education is the Ukrainian national idea as a desire for state independence.

The Phenomenon of Learning in a Museum in a Modern Educational Space: Opportunities of Using Smart Technologies

The article analyzes the peculiarities of organizing learning in a museum in the system of smart education with modern smart technologies aimed at the process of gaining skills and competencies for flexible and adapted interaction with social, economic and technological environment. Smart technologies are emphasized to not only allow creating the effect of presence but also to advance the content sharing, change its quality, and ensure the possibility of communication between all the participants of the educational process. The phenomenon of learning in a museum is viewed in the context of gamification, edutainment, the storytelling technique and the project method. The opportunities of using smart technologies in museums as centres of communication, studying and leisure in the context of a modern knowledge society are defined.

Folklore as a Factor Contributing to the Polish-Czech Integration on the Example of the World Festival of the Polish Community Folk Groups

In 2019 in Rzeszów the XVIII World Festival of the Polish community folk groups was held. The festivals have been organized since 1969, being the Song and Dance Group of Olza one of their most frequent participants. Rzeszów hosted other groups from the Czech Republic which were equally successful. The groups are widely-recognized in their own country receiving many prizes and awards in there. The paper indicates the different dimensions of Polish-Czech integration, namely personal, linguistic, educational, cultural and behavioral. The activities undertaken by the concert organizers as well as the individual effort of the participants and the audience alike made that creating the community, integration and building contacts between different nationalities, regions and cultures was possible. The main source constituted the materials collected at the Centre of Research on the Poles and the Polish community in the world of the University of Rzeszów as well as the press articles published locally and nationally.

Family Education Through the Lens of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky’s Views

In the current context, we are confronted with controversial views on the family and family education, which are caused by the complex conditions in which the family organism must function. Therefore, it is important to study the views of the past eminent figures on family education for the purposes of predicting the ways of development of the modern family. Andrey Sheptytsky, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, viewed the role of the family and the peculiarities of its educational function in the context of the neo-Thomism philosophy, but the characteristic feature of his views is democracy. He professed the democratism of family relations between spouses, as well as between parents and children. He expressed his views on the main goals of family education, its content and methods, which remain largely relevant today.

The Change in Thinking about Social Integration of People with Disabilities in Educational Context

The idea of social integration of people with disabilities is widely known, accepted and implemented in many areas of social life. It should be noted, however, that in more than forty years history of promoting integration in Poland, significant changes regarding the very concept of integration and understanding the determinants of its effects have been visible. The experience of teachers undertaking integrative teaching and scientific reflection have been the source of these changes, changes regarding: static (state)/dynamic (process) approach to integration, individual/social dimension of integration of people with disabilities, total/fragmentary nature of social integration are the most radical. In the aspect of changes in terms of social integration, particular attention is devoted to the conditions of integration in education of children with disabilities: positive attitudes of children towards disabled peers, preparation of a child with disability for integration, teacher - his knowledge, skills, attitude.