Abstract:

In order to prepare teachers for a successful career, the priority of many universities has become the improvement of the quality of studies, the modernization of the study environment, teaching content, methods, and the competences of teachers.

Students are an integral part of the higher education system, therefore, when assessing the quality of studies, their opinion is an extremely important part of the quality assurance processes of higher education institutions. Students' satisfaction with their studies becomes one of the important arguments when making decisions both on issues of improving the quality of higher education in general, and on training pedagogues.

In higher education rating systems, one of the indicators of study quality is the university's internationalization strategy. Internationalization indicators such as the number of international students, the number of students and teachers participating in exchange programs, etc. are usually evaluated. Teacher training is also affected by the growing need for internationalization. Teachers must understand global realities, know cultural differences, be carriers of positive changes. Therefore, the studies must train teachers who have international competences necessary for the global world and are open to change. Opportunities to acquire these competencies are provided by the internationalization of studies.

We investigated how future teachers evaluate the quality of studies in general and the possibilities of internalization of studies as well. The aim of the study is to analyze students' opinions about the possibilities of internationalization in the context of the evaluation of study quality.

A quantitative research methodology was chosen for the research, applying the questionnaire survey method. A semi-closed questionnaire was prepared. Students of the first-cycle teacher education programs of one Lithuanian University were invited to participate in the questionnaire survey. 146 students participated in the study.

The results of the study revealed that more than half (52.1%) of students have not participated and do not intend to participate in international study exchange programs. Only less than a fifth (17.8%) of the respondents participated or intend to participate in international study exchange programs. Such research results could be attributed to the fact that the survey took place at a time when, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic and foreign higher education institutions did not conduct study exchange programs.

According to the survey, when deciding to participate in study exchange programs, the most important thing for students is that the study subjects offered by a foreign university correspond to their study program.

Other important aspects for students - for the foreign university to be recognized as advanced in the field of study in which the student is studying; it is also important for students to receive sufficient funding for partial studies.

Keywords:

Quality of studies, internationalization of studies, teacher education.