The thesis presents conceptual synthesis and a new approach to the problem
of the current trends development at the UK higher education from the second half
of XX to the beginning of XXI century. The UK Higher education has been
characterized as a cultural and historical phenomenon. The following stages have
been studied: the establishment of the UK higher school from XII to VII century,
further development progress from XVIII to the first half of XX century as well as
the modern period of functioning the UK system of higher education. The
peculiarities and key factors of influence have been identified and characterized for
each of the mentioned above stages.
The following trends of the UK higher education development at the modern
stage have been found and described: internationalizing the UK universities in
English language dimension, innovations in the UK higher school, leadership of the
UK higher education, social and communicative competencies of the UK
universities’ graduates. The following components of the mentioned above trends
have been characterized: professional training in English at higher educational
institutions, standards of English teaching, learning and assessment at higher school,
international English language testing systems, student experience as a key outcome
of the UK graduates, openness of British higher education, holistic approach and
academic integrity, theory and practice of individual and team leadership, as well as
HE leadership in times of changes, skills of effective communication, conflicts
solution and interaction in small groups (teams), awareness about ethics in the area
of professional interaction, peculiarities of social perception and influence.
The scientific analysis of the theory and practice of the UK higher school in
the context of the mentioned above trends has been done. Particularly, a theoretical
model of support for the staff of the higher education establishments in times of
changes has been developed. It implies functioning on institutional and team levels
in correspondence with the following four stages: forming, storming, norming and
performing. The aim of the represented model has been identified as providing staff
of universities with qualified support. The effective work of university staff at an
institutional level and successful project implementation at a team level are
considered as desired outcomesofimplementation of the mentioned above model.
Cross-cutting studying as well as timely and comprehensive informing the staff,
which is going through the process of significant transforming changes, have been
identified as key factors of successful implementation of the model.
The following perspective ways of implementation of the UK higher school
good practices on the basis of Ukrainian universities have been identified and
described in the thesis: increasing participation of Ukrainian universities in
international projects focused on studying advanced educational practices,
networking international partnership, building capacity of higher educational
institutions; improving qualification of university staff and students in the context
of the mentioned above trends of higher school development (through training
programmes, schools, interтships, projects, on-line studying, etc.); cooperation with
the world academic community (particularly, on the basis of bilateral and tripartite
agreements, mutual scientific and educational activities), revitalization of students,
teaching, academic and administrative staff (of middle and top levels) as well as
other stakeholders who are interested in building capacity of Ukrainian universities
(particularly, through establishing dialogues with state bodies and business
organizations, developing initiatives and implementing projects aimed at improving
operation of universities and education area in common); involving all the levels of
institutional structure (top and middle administrative staff, teaching and academic
representatives as well as students) as project teams; implementing broader
interdisciplinary approach and practical component into curricular aimed at training
competitive graduates on the basis of Ukrainian universities.
