Abstract:

Today, in the age of globalization and rapidly developing information technologies the education market is becoming more and more competitive. The universities all over the world are looking for more effective forms of promoting their educational institutions on an international level. Among the increasingly popular international educational projects are summer schools. They are organized to encourage the exchange of teaching and learning experience, development of strategies for cooperation, career advancement, or personal enrichment. Summer school programs make it possible to simulate the scientific community by creating training courses on the topical issues and involving renowned professors and experts from famous universities worldwide. The characteristic feature of summer school classes is the wide use of active methods and creative techniques, including group projects, excursions, discussions, interactive lectures and case studies. National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine has organized an International Summer School on the theme "Achievements and Applications of Environmental and Life Sciences for Sustainable Development". The program includes the basic course Knowledge for Sustainable Development of Society for degree credit, improving skills of English for specific purposes and acquaintance with historical and centuries-old cultural heritage of western Ukraine. The results of the survey held among the participants (50% of whom were foreign students and lecturers) have demonstrated the main advantages of the International Summer School: working in international student teams, developing skills in setting and achieving common goals, making the best use of the latest research results and foreign experience in the field, as well as the opportunity to get closer to the culture and customs of Ukraine. By the results of their studies the participants receive certificates with a certain number of ECTS credits. Thus, organization of international summer school is a challenging area of university education development, and its implementation and content enhancement attracts talented students to research, promotes internationalization of education and practical realization of the principles of creating common educational space and the university concept of lifelong learning.

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