Trust in the Educational Process of the University: from Values to Tools

Abstract

The relevance of the phenomenon of “trust” in the field of higher education is due to the growing crisis of trust in all spheres of life of Russian society. This is a factor that enhances the attention of researchers to this topic. Trust in higher education is studied at three levels: 1) institutional; 2) interpersonal depersonalized; 3) interpersonal personified. Restoration and strengthening of trust is ensured primarily at the interpersonal personified level: 1) institutional level; 2) interpersonal depersonalized level; 3) interpersonal personified level. The authors note that development of trust can be ensured primarily at the interpersonal personified level, as the process of interaction of a particular teacher with a particular student or student group. The authors present their own values, which are connected with the phenomenon of trust at this level. The tools that allow transforming the educational process at the university into a space of activity, which is characterized by interpersonal personalized trust between the teacher and the students are described. These tools are: 1) a dialogue between a teacher and a student and an agreement that creates during the dialogue; this agreement defines the rights and obligations of the both of them; 2) a questionnaire or essay, showing, on the one hand, the students’ motives, attitudes, expectations associated with the upcoming learning process, and, on the other, the teacher’s interest of these characteristics of the students’ inner world; 3) a self-assessment system which helps student to assess their own educational results using specific criteria; 4) the final reflection of the teacher and students about their interaction, as well as about compliance with the contract. The article presents the experience of using these tools. The analysis of practice shows their significant influence on the building and strengthening of trust between the teacher and students. Keywords: trust, lack of trust, tools for building and strengthening of trust, dialogue, selfassessment, reflection