Internationalisation of Music Education in Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to consider the concept of “internationalisation of tertiary education’, to trace the problems on the way to the internationalisation of the educational environment, to summarise the recommendations for a successful process of internationalisation of music education in Ukraine, to formulate the main goals of internationalisation of music education. The research methodology. The article uses the following methods: analytical method has been used to study the concept of internationalisation of music education; comparative analysis – to compare different scientific opinions on the process of internationalisation of music education in Ukraine. Elements of universal logical procedures of cognition have been applied: induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis. Scientific novelty lies in the generalisation of recommendations for a successful process of internationalisation of music education in Ukraine, as well as the main goals of this topic. Conclusions. The greatest success in the internationalisation of music education can be achieved only after the development and adoption at the state level of a strategy with a clear definition of goals, priorities, mechanisms, and a system of measures, supported by appropriate financial backing. Internationalisation of music education in Ukraine should be organised in two aspects: organisational and systemic. Organisational aspect comprises structural, functional, administrative, academic, and cultural readiness. The systemic one consists in economic and financial support from the state, administrative and regulatory mechanisms. Universities are of particular importance in the process of internationalisation of music education, it is their responsibility to introduce the best models of internationalisation of music education based on European experience and their own strategy. When considering how to prepare students to be active in the international music education community, it is important to take into account a successful role model. The task of a role model is not only to introduce young scholars to important people in the global music education community, but also to model how to act in a global context, such as how to deal with intercultural differences or how to support the internationalisation of music education in different ways. In the process of integrating music education in Ukraine, it is important to take into account a successful example to follow. We can summarise that the main goals of internationalisation of music education in Ukraine are as follows: 1) active international cooperation; 2) continuous improvement of the quality of educational, scientific and other services through the introduction of best international practices; 3) formation of a modern innovative environment of students and staff with high-level linguistic and intercultural competencies, able to adequately respond to global challenges; 4) development of skills and abilities that will allow students to compete confidently in the global labour market and feel like full members of the world community; 5) introduction of a culture of openness and tolerance.

Key words: music education, academic mobility, educational policy priorities, internationalisation of tertiary education system.