Abstract
This paper presents the recent survey results among 160 international students of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The survey aimed to analyse the international students' opinion concerning the religiosity of Ukrainians to distinguish the existing or possible problems in cross-cultural communication in higher education. Obtained data was generalised, analysed and compared with the results of the similar surveys conducted among Ukrainian respondents. The comparison revealed that religios ity, religious tolerance and religious freedom of Ukrainians, as perceived by international students, are noticeably lower than reported by Ukrainians themselves. The authors believe that the presented Ukrainian case is representative and valid for some neighbouring countries with cultural and historical connections with Ukraine and can contribute to the establishment of good international educational practices.
Highlights
Religious tolerance and freedom appear to be the important factors that should be taken into consideration when it comes to the internationalization of higher education
This paper presents the case of Ukraine concerning really existing problems on religious and cultural grounds in the establishment of good communicative practices in the field of international higher education
The experience examined in this article, in the authors' opinion, can be valid for Ukraine but may be productively used to improve the educational practices of many other countries (Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Baltic countries, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other European countries of Slavic origin that were under the influence of USSR) Such validity derives from the geographical location of Ukraine and its cultural and historical connections (Ukraine is an “intersection” of main European and Slavic cultures and one of the main scenes of tragic pages of European history in 20th century)
Summary
Religious tolerance and freedom appear to be the important factors that should be taken into consideration when it comes to the internationalization of higher education. This paper presents the case of Ukraine concerning really existing problems on religious and cultural grounds in the establishment of good communicative practices in the field of international higher education. (Krindatch, 2003; Yelensky, 2004; Tytarenko, 2018) Another important aim of this paper is to contribute to the development of a successful strategy of cross-cultural communication between Ukrainians and representatives of Eastern cultures (Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt, India and others) who arrive in Ukraine for educational purposes. Such a strategy may be realised by the means of overcoming the misunderstandings on the religious grounds. Did not hear attitude to the fol- tive ferent ative not about this relilowing religions think gion (denomiand religious curabout it nation) rents?
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