DIGITAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND ICT TOOLS FOR FINAL QUALIFICATION ASSESSMENT: SURVEY STUDY FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF OF EUROPEAN AND ORIENTAL PHILOLOGY PROGRAMS

Abstract

The global pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures and restrictions have posed an array of challenges to the structure and procedure of university summative assessment process. Qualification assessment for Foreign Languages major programs in particular is a strict regimen process that involves different stages (oral and written exams, final project viva, internal and external review). Factors of societal change, that provide the backdrop for skillset critical transformation, crucial for the COVID-19 emergency educational framework are considered. The study premise is based on identification of various competency principles, derivative of 21st century skills for university staff members and projected digital literacy requirements. A correspondence between 21st century skills framework, Competences 2020 framework and the newly devised Global Skills framework has been devised. The study objective is to critically review the applied case and best practices of Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University Digital Final Qualification Assessment for students of European (French, Italian, Spanish, English, German) and Oriental (Mandarin Chinese, Japanese) Languages major programs, employed in the year 2020 due to quarantine measures. The survey and analysis of different ICT tools is used to translate real life qualification assessment practices into online blended format. The investigation also seeks to identify various groups of applied digital skills and collaboration skills, utilized through qualification assessment process by all parties (students, faculty and referees). It is determined how in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown all elements of the Final Qualification Assessment at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University for European and Oriental Languages programs have been relegated to the digital, remote or blended format with the use of ICT tools. The qualification assessment regimen for foreign languages major programs was adapted to digital format as a framework (a legal procedure that results in the degree confirmation of a student), the string of consecutive communicative activities according to the legal procedure, the "ritual" scenario. Comparative results of the Final Qualification Assessment digital format adaptation for different groups of foreign languages programs (European and Oriental) are devised