An Integrative Model of Interethnic Interaction in the Academic Environment of an Internationally Oriented University

   The popularity of higher professional education programs in the Russian language has mainstreamed the interest of the researchers in the issues of interethnic interaction and adaptation of foreign students to the educational environment of internationally oriented Russian universities.

   The purpose of the research is to develop a theoretical integrative model of interethnic interaction in the educational environment of an internationally oriented university.

   The Russian language is the model-integrating factor being a means of interethnic communication in the process of getting higher professional education by the representatives of various ethnic groups. Research methods are defined in accordance with its goals and reflect its interdisciplinary nature. There was conducted a multidimensional experimental study of a large student audience (more than 600 respondents). In order to identify the factors that affect the interethnic interaction effectiveness in the educational environment of a Russian internationally oriented university there was developed the interdisciplinary diagnostic base. The research results represent a holistic pedagogical integrative model of interethnic interaction in the academic environment of an internationally oriented university. The implementation of this model would harmoniously develop the educational needs of international students. The authors determine the model components and describe the content component. It has been substantiated that effective interethnic interaction in the process of mastering higher professional education programs is an important condition for the realization of the educational potential of representatives of various ethnic groups; it is based on the balanced development of communicative, socio-cultural and intercultural competencies in the Russian language and the accumulation of ethnocultural knowledge, skills and abilities. By the results of the study, the authors concluded that projecting the model onto the organizational and content aspects of educational activities of educational institutions would harmonize the interaction of representatives of different ethnic groups in the academic environment. It would create the necessary pedagogical, organizational and methodological conditions for enhancing the efficiency of higher professional education programs for international students.

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