Purpose: The purpose is to analyze the current state of the domestic market for educational services and the main trends that determine the quality of the country’s human capital. Procedure and research methods: The author has analyzed the problems caused for human capital by global competition. The risks and opportunities of Russian higher education in the formation of global educational products (massive open online courses) are investigated. Results of the study: The analysis of the state of the Russian higher education in the conditions of digital transformation showed that insufficient effectiveness of mass higher education is an obstacle to constructing of educational programs at the request of employers and society. The conditions of digitalization result in the transformation of the education. Modern teacher should not only retransmit knowledge but transmit skills and be an instructor. New values and motivation to studying should be formed in modern students, in other words it is necessary to “teach studying” and to be ready for work with progressive projects. Only in such a way it is possible to keep competitiveness of Russian higher education in the age of digitalization. Theoretical / practical significance: It consists in proposing a solution to these problems through the process of transforming the educational environment of universities into development institutions by directly influencing the environment around them.

Purpose. The article presents theoretical interpretation of the experience in developing and implementing the competition project named «”School and society” intellectual competitions for schoolchildren» as a component of educational and professional training of future primary school teachers. Methodology and Approach. The content and function characteristics are given to define the directions of work at the competition project implementation; the effectiveness of each stage is evaluated basing on the dynamics of the competition results and reflexive data on identifying the students’ readiness to lead the research activities of schoolchildren. Results. Positive changes in students’ readiness to lead schoolchildren’s research activity were noted. These changes were fixed during students’ participation in the contest project realization on the following criteria: ability to take into account schoolchildren’s cognitive interest while formulating the problem (theme) of the research, knowledge of the logics of the research work stages, understanding the didactic importance of the research work as a productive method of studying, ability to work in a team as well as in the situation of uncertainty and risk. Theoretical and Practical implications. The results obtained contribute to the practice of updating the content-functional model of future teachers’ training to implement the research approach in teaching.

The purpose is to substantiate the importance of the ethno-cultural component in the educational process, to reveal the reasons for the reduction of ethno-cultural forms of education, to identify opportunities for ethno-cultural education and upbringing of students. Methodology and Approach. The historical analysis of ethno-cultural education in the Volga region is done, as well as the social opinion poll of teachers and students. Results. The presented historical analysis of ethno-cultural education in the Volga region, the results of the survey suggest that public education plays a key role in preserving the ethnic identity of the multi-ethnic region of the Volga region, and the possibility of including the ethnocultural component into school curricula. Theoretical / practical implications. Updating the content of the regional component in accordance with the new needs of the regions sets the task of a flexible training system taking into account regional conditions and national specifics. In the process of ethno-ecological education of schoolchildren they get familiarized with the spiritual and moral heritage and culture of their people, use the ideas and traditions of folk pedagogy that contribute to the accumulation of positive moral and valuable experience in interacting with nature.

Purpose: Basing on the data of diagnostics of value orientations to characterize the pedagogical conditions for the system of values formation of students with high level of leadership potential. Methodology and Approach: the authors performed the analysis of the problem based on the position that the value system of a youth leader will have an impact on his environment as well as on the social development of the society, and the promotion of new social initiatives among young people. Results: based on the results of the study of value orientations of young people, pedagogical conditions for the formation of a system of values of student youth with a high level of leadership potential are justified. Theoretical / practical implications: consist in formulating proposals for creating conditions for training leaders among young people by supporting and promoting various youth initiatives; spreading positive leadership experience among a wide range of young people; organizing targeted training and developing the leadership potential of young people.

Purpose. Justification of methods and pedagogical approaches for solving the problem of artistic and compositional thinking formation in the process of creating a plot composition. Procedure and research methods. The analysis of various methodological approaches to the posing of compositional tasks for students with an assessment of the results of the approaches application is used. Criteria for assessing the quality of solving art and compositional problems are proposed. Results of the study: An experimental technique is described, which the author used in his practice for students of the painting department, and which showed a higher level of formed art and compositional thinking than in the classical methodology of teaching composition. Practical significance: The article is of applied nature and aims to show the conditions under which make it possible to improve learning outcomes.

Purpose is to single out the organizational and pedagogical conditions necessary for involving participants of the educational process in the creative activity, as well as to develop the criteria for assessing their readiness level for creativity. Methodology and Approach. The use of analysis of psychological and pedagogical, scientific literature on the problem, as well as questionnaire survey and testing of the students and teachers. Results. Signs and content of teachers and students’ readiness for creative activity are singled out, the sequence and content of the stages of transition to creative activity are revealed, a set of criteria and indicators are proposed allowing us to determine the level of teachers and students’ readiness for creative activity, characteristics of these levels are given. Theoretical / practical implications of the study is that the complex of organizational-pedagogical conditions are developed, as well as qualitative levels of the educational process participants’ readiness for creative activity.

The purpose is to analyze the contrastive method of Serbian slavist Radovan Koshutich using his text-book “Russian Extracts” (1910) as an example. Methodology and Approach. Theoretical principles, formulated by R. Koshutich are analyzed. While studying the structure and texts of his text-book the methods of observation, description were used, as well as the methods of linguistic and culturological analysis. Results. On the basis of the research performed the conclusion is drawn that R. Koshutich considered prevention of cross-language interference to be the most important methodological task in the process of studying Russian by other Slavic languages native speakers. Theoretical / practical implications. The study proves that linguistic foundations of the contrastive method developed by R. Koshutich, as well as the methods of its practical realization, can be productively used in modern theory and practice of teaching Russian to other Slavic languages native speakers.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to determine the functioning and to define the methodological status of communication spheres in professionally oriented teaching Russian as a Foreign Language. Methodology and Approach. The methods of observations and analysis determine the functioning of academic and research communication sphere, the academic and professional communication sphere, the professional communication sphere. Methodological support of the communication spheres is analyzed. Results. The authors point at the shortage of educational materials aimed at training communication competence for professional activity. The article states the lack of such materials for engineering specialization. Thus, the authors introduce and describe a concept of textbook for international students of engineering specialization. Theoretical and Practical Implications. The research results contribute to the theory of communication spheres in teaching Russian as a Foreign Language. Practical results may be used for arranging professionally oriented textbooks in Russian as a Foreign Language.

Purpose: The consideration of cognitive-activity approach to teaching the discipline “Russian language and culture of speech” at the university. Procedure and methods of research: The methodological experience is analyzed, as well as textbooks on speech culture and scientific literature on the topic. The results of the study: The analysis of textbooks on speech culture showed that the traditional method of speech competence development does not take into account the cognitive features of the student’s personality development, although thinking is associated with speech. Theoretical/practical significance: The significance is in summarizing the theoretical material and methodological experience and formulate proposals to improve the teaching methods of the discipline “Russian language and culture of speech” at the University in the framework of cognitive-activity approach.

Purpose: To indicate the need for the introduction of new methods and means of teaching students a foreign language in the field of jurisprudence (terms, ideas, documents), who have low quality of speech training. Procedure and research methods: The authors performed an analysis of empirical material (testing students at the initial stage of studying), as well as the analysis of the tests results. They provided necessary selection of foreign language material, specialized topics (legal orientation). Results: The selection of topics, preparation of materials in English (presentation) is empirically verified, which resulted in successful presentations at student round tables and conferences (including in other universities). Theoretical/ practical significance: It consists in summarizing a significant array of testing data, in the selection of specific grammatical and lexical material aimed at developing and consolidating existing speaking and writing skills. The practical result of the work was also the opportunity for students to use topics and material sufficiently freely to prepare messages in English on legal topics.

The purpose is to describe the content of forming chemistry teachers’ readiness for students’educational-research activities on the academic discipline “Chemistry”. Methodology and Approach. The analysis of the literature on the problem is done. The procedureof monitoring the level of teachers’ readiness is developed, as well as the technology of readiness formation. The research was performed with the use of the following methods: analysis, induction, and modeling of the educational process while developing the technology. Results. The result of the research performed is the technology on forming chemistry teachers’ readiness for students’educational-research activities on the academic discipline “Chemistry”, offered by the author. Theoretical / practical implications of the study is that the technology offered makes it possible to enhance teachers’ readiness for students’educational-research activities.

Purpose. Determination of the optimal category of potential customers for the graduate student project. This is relevant for universities which introduce into educational process the method of project-based learning as a basic one. Methodology and Approach. The analysis of scientific literature containing both empirical, experimental data on the use of the project-based learning, and theoretical generalizations is made. Personal experience of communication with representatives of commercial and non-commercial structures related to the production or use of commercial and social advertising is generalized. Results. Two categories of potential customers are singled out in the result: small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit organizations. The advantages and disadvantages of university’s cooperation with them are scrutinized. In order to create the prerequisites for successful development of the final year project it is recommended to begin cooperation on the implementation of simple tasks and projects in the third year of baccalaureate. Theoretical / practical implications. The optimal categories of potential customers of a student project are defined. Cooperation with them will make it easier to fully implement the method of project training, including the development of professional projects by students.

Purpose. The purpose of this work is to identify the current situation of teaching Russian in China, to consider the importance and effectiveness of constructivism in teaching, to analyze the constructivist approach to the reform of the Practical Russian Language course. Requirements of this approach dictate the need to rethink the role of the teacher and the student in a joint learning process. Methodology and Approach. The author examines the reforming of the Practical Russian Language course in the framework of constructivism. The four-year course of study at the university is divided into elementary, intermediate and advanced stages. The article offers to single out three levels of studying: language, speech and communication, at each stage of pedagogic activity. Over the whole length of studying the transmission and acquisition of knowledge is combined with students’ skills development. Results. The article studies the reform in the framework of constructivism, including relevance, objectives, content and methods of the reform. Theoretical / practical implications. The constructivist approach can improve the pedagogical effect, promote the reform of teaching Russian in China and promote the development of talents with innovative abilities.