The article highlights the main methodological recommendations based on the best international and domestic pedagogical experience on reforming approaches to solving the problem of nationalpatriotic education and understanding by students of Ukrainian higher education institutions of the essence of the concept of «national identity» in the context of shaping the trajectory of a new evolutionary stage of civil society. New effective ways to modernize the methods of national-patriotic education in the context of unpredictable challenges of the Russian-Ukrainian war are proposed. From the standpoint of comparative historical analysis, the appropriation of Ukrainian history and culture by the imperial and totalitarian regimes of Russia is actualized as a clear example.The key issues of the process of forming national identity and its awareness by civil society are analyzed objectively and comprehensively. Possible ways of introducing nation-building guidelines into the system of educational process of higher education institutions of Ukraine at the present stage are considered. The article highlights and distinguishes the value aspect of the concept of «national identity», analyzes the life and creative path of prominent Ukrainians who were killed or persecuted by imperial and totalitarian regimes because of their Ukrainian origin and attempts to counteract Ukrainophobic ideology.The article substantiates the leading role of the creative heritage of the great Kobzar, Taras Shevchenko, as an intellectual whose biography was falsified and distorted by imperial and totalitarian ideological censorship. The author emphasizes the role of Taras Shevchenko as a key to understanding the essence of Ukrainian identity and his role as a moral authority of the Ukrainian nation.The author emphasizes the advanced achievements of Ukrainians in the field of engineering and technology to foster a patriotic sense of pride in the Ukrainian people and its recognition on a global scale. The article examines the activities of leading representatives of the scientific elite in the context of the human dimension of national culture and its nationally consolidating categories. In particular, theauthor lists the achievements in various scientific and technical fields that contributed to the intensification of national processes and the establishment of a positive image of Ukraine on a global scale. As part of the coverage of the stated topic, a number of issues related to the popularization of knowledge about the evolution of national culture and the dissemination of information about its achievements are considered. The author of the article proposes effective methods, forms and means of forming a nationally conscious citizen-patriot in the framework of teaching socio-humanitarian educational components in Ukrainian higher education institutions. Specific methodological recommendations are presented, examples are given that will allow to implement the theoreticalprovisions.The author's experience in teaching the educational component «History of Culture of Ukraine» in higher education institutions will contribute to the intellectual and professional development of teachers and improve their qualifications. The recommendations presented in the article will be useful in intensifying the process of national and patriotic education as the basis of the entire educational process in the context of the forced challenges of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The author emphasizes the importance of modernizing the content of education and introducing new innovative methods and forms of national-patriotic education and understanding the essence of the concept of «national identity» among higher education students as creators of the statehood future of Ukraine.