MULTICULTURAL BASES OF STUDENTS CIVIC IDENTITY FORMATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The article substantiates the main priority and innovative ideas of this problem in theory and practice, examines the semantic meaning of the concepts of "multicultural education", "multicultural upbringing", "civic identity", "tolerance", and identifies effective forms and interactive methods of education and training with school and university students in the context of reforming the education system. Three levels of multicultural education are highlighted, including ethnic, civic and global (planetary). It is noted that multicultural education synthesizes knowledge about culture, which is the property of the civilized world, about ethnic culture, about national culture as a product of historical mutual enrichment and interpenetration of ethnic cultures. It is emphasized that the very concept of "multicultural education" is inextricably linked with the concept of "civic identity" in the meaning that the latter as a form of social life of a person encompasses "the feeling of being a part of society and the desire to be an active member of it in the present and future. The author characterizes the technology of education of the culture of personal self-affirmation, which actualizes the multicultural focus, active civic position of the student's personality. The described innovative program on English language teaching methods developed by the British Council in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine within the framework of the project "New Generation School Teacher" focuses on the formation of students' professional and pedagogical competences of future teachers, the development of critical thinking, initiative, creativity, independent thinking, and active citizenship in the socio-cultural reality. The author summarizes that the analysis of domestic and foreign experience makes it possible to comprehensively study the problems of civic identity and tolerance in the context of multiculturalism of the modern educational space. Therefore, it is undoubtedly especially valuable to clearly define and substantiate a conceptually oriented perspective which would contribute to the development of active civic position of pupils and student youth, the formation of national consciousness, the formation of high moral feelings and habits, would ensure the creation of a positive system of pupils' and students' attitudes towards reality, and establish tolerant intercultural relations in various activities.   Key words: multicultural education, multicultural upbringing, tolerance, intercultural communication, civic identity, culture of personal self-affirmation, interactive methods, personality-oriented approach.