p.
165
Cross-Cultural Approach in Social Projects: Analyzing the Experience of Intercultural Communication of Southern Federal University Students
DOI 10.18522/2072-0181-2015-165-170
The method of social projects is contemplated in the article as a universal instrument in the system of education in modern developed countries. It works as a tool of shaping civic-mindedness of modern students and the so-called “human factor” – ability to make independent decisions, be responsible for them, use teamwork skills and trust peers. The author distinguishes the difference in approaches to social projects in higher education in Russia and in the western countries: the USA, EU, Australia. Focus of Russian universities on academic approach to the technology of project work, especially in the field of engineering and scientific research is compared to the expansion of students’ hands-on based service learning project experience in local communities in the western countries. The impact of intercultural communication and experience of independently implemented social projects on Russian students is demonstrated in the article on the basis of the data gathered within the framework of joint project work of Russian (SFedU, Rostov-on-Don) and American (UMSL, Saint-Louis, Missouri) students. Having supervised students’ activity and analyzed their blogs, essays, discussions in social network the author highlights their personal growth, level of comprehension of means and goals of active community involvement, evaluation of teamwork experience and identifying personal role in the team and, besides, their reflection on how does the experience of doing your own community civic project infl uence the development of your professional competences.
The method of social projects is contemplated in the article as a universal instrument in the system of education in modern developed countries. It works as a tool of shaping civic-mindedness of modern students and the so-called “human factor” – ability to make independent decisions, be responsible for them, use teamwork skills and trust peers. The author distinguishes the difference in approaches to social projects in higher education in Russia and in the western countries: the USA, EU, Australia. Focus of Russian universities on academic approach to the technology of project work, especially in the field of engineering and scientific research is compared to the expansion of students’ hands-on based service learning project experience in local communities in the western countries. The impact of intercultural communication and experience of independently implemented social projects on Russian students is demonstrated in the article on the basis of the data gathered within the framework of joint project work of Russian (SFedU, Rostov-on-Don) and American (UMSL, Saint-Louis, Missouri) students. Having supervised students’ activity and analyzed their blogs, essays, discussions in social network the author highlights their personal growth, level of comprehension of means and goals of active community involvement, evaluation of teamwork experience and identifying personal role in the team and, besides, their reflection on how does the experience of doing your own community civic project infl uence the development of your professional competences.
intercultural communication, social project, service learning, personal value, refl ection, leadership qualities, experience of community involvement