Trends in the development of master's training in EU countries in the context of adult education and internationalization of higher education

Abstract

the article provides a theoretical and comparative analysis of modern trends in the development of master's training in the countries of the European Union in the context of adult education, internationalization and transformation of the European educational space. It is substantiated that the modern master's degree in the EU countries functions as a multidimensional system combining academic, professional and social and personal components of training. It was established that the key trends in the development of master's education are internationalization, digitalization, competence orientation, fundamentalization of knowledge, development of academic mobility and integration of lifelong learning principles.

The purpose of the article is to analyze the current trends in the development of master's training in the countries of the European Union in the context of adult education, internationalization and transformation of higher education.

Research methods. The article uses a complex of general scientific and special research methods, in particular, analysis and synthesis of scientific sources, comparative pedagogical method, systematization and generalization of scientific approaches to the problem of development of master's education in EU countries. The method of comparative analysis is used to compare European and Ukrainian models of professional training of adults and master's education.

Research results. It was established that modern master's training in the countries of the European Union is characterized by multidimensionality and a combination of academic, professional, and social and personal components.It was determined that the key trends in the development of master's education are internationalization, digitalization, competence orientation, fundamentalization of knowledge, development of academic mobility and integration of lifelong learning principles. The concepts of internationalization of higher education by J. Knight, G. de Wit, M. van der Wende, as well as the theories of global transformation of universities by F. Altbach and S. Marginson are analyzed. It has been proven that master's education in EU countries is increasingly focused on the formation of the ability for professional mobility, intercultural communication, critical thinking and adaptation to changes in the professional environment. It was found that in European models of adult education, a social-humanistic orientation prevails, while in Ukraine, an economically oriented approach dominates. It was established that the concept of lifelong learning acts as a methodological basis for the modernization of master's programs in the EU countries.

Conclusions. It is substantiated that modern master's training in the countries of the European Union functions as a component of the global educational space and is aimed at training a competitive specialist capable of professional mobility, continuous learning and innovative activity. The expediency of adapting European experience to the conditions of modernization of the Ukrainian higher education system through the development of a competency-based approach, digitization of education, individualization of educational trajectories, and integration of lifelong education principles has been proven.