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VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF STUDENTS:
THE EXPERIENCE OF IMPLEMENTING A MODEL OF SOCIALLY ORIENTED EDUCATION
T. V. Nikulina
The federal state educational standard of the third generation is focused on human development of an individual as the subject of professional activity and communication throughout life. The expected outcome produces an ideal specialist (a model) trained in certain professional education programs. On the one hand, educational institutions will be performing the state order and carrying out training in accordance with the federal government standard; on the other hand, through the implementation of the elective component of professional education programs, they will maintain compliance with the terms of the labor market and the requirements of employers who are consumers of educational services. The determining criterion is the quality of vocational education training. The educational institution has the ability to generate the model relevant and demanded in the future labor market if it implements the entire set of training programs within the framework of lifelong education.
The Ural State Pedagogical University (hereinafter - USPU) is aimed at creating conditions for students to acquire up-to-date knowledge and skills, to acquire quality, designed to solve practical problems in a professional manner and, if necessary, a new specialty for any of the stages of higher education. USPU has three main features: first, government funding of its activities determines the precise and rapid control of the quality of educational services, and secondly, USPU implements curricula of bachelor’s and master’s degrees for management of educational institutions: organization of innovation activities, marketing
management, and educational management etc. Thirdly, a practice-oriented learning process is part of the continuous system of practices on the basis of institutions of the city and the region. The unity of teaching and learning environment at USPU forms integral educational activities at all levels of education. The vector of the University is directed at open education and application of open learning techniques.
Schools, colleges and USPU form a unity of practice in the course of training. This unity helps bring education to the needs of employers and organize a network of internship. The purpose of internship is to consolidate the knowledge and skills of trainees acquired at training, as well as the acquisition of practical experience in professional activities in a particular workplace (depending on the level of education). This minimizes the well-known illnesses of higher education: (a) a high level of “theorization” (b) a large gap between education and real life behind the walls of educational institutions, and (c) formal organization of internships, both from an educational institution, and from the hosting organization. It is important to point out that ideology and the educational process in USPU are aimed at training students in a creative way to develop the pedagogical potential of the country. The implementation of this objective involves the integration of scientific and educational activities with innovation. Therefore, a system of workshops is introduced in the learning process along with an internship according
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to the state educational standard. Workshops as a form of classroom work involve direct involvement of practice in the learning process and the development of the professional competencies necessary and required today. The need to address the strengthening of the relationship of theoretical and practical activities, the development of professional competence and, consequently, the future demand for university graduates in the labor market, and the success of their professional activities and (or) lifelong professional education has resulted in the introduction of additional disciplines to the basic educational program.
Higher education today is one of the most important pillars of any modern state, striving to preserve its independence, identity, and competitive economy. The purpose of the mission of any modern university is to develop and implement a people-centered model of education, capable of sustainable and efficient innovations in education. If so, then there is no doubt that the strategy of the university should be targeted at the preparation of creative, active, independent personalities focused not only on their own high achievements, but also on the overall success of the people, organizations, communities, city, region and country around them.
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