STUDENT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE AS A TOOL FOR THE FORMATION OF GENERAL CULTURAL COMPETENCES

Student scientific conference arrangement is a tool to shape both professional and general cultural competences that relate to the research work of students and are an integral part of the educational process of modern university. Unlike the formation of general and professional competences, the formation of general cultural competences happens more creatively and multilaterally. This difference has also formed the basis for a research of development of general cultural competences by means of student scientific conferences.
The objective of our study is to analyze the potential of using scientific conferences to form the general cultural competencies of the future specialist in veterinary, to implement additional educational programs in the development of various areas of student research activities, and to create conditions for understanding the results of education and training of students.
The research was carried out in several steps: at the first stage a group of 66 students from the first and second courses was allocated. The study group was involved into scientific activities by participating in the organization and arranging of one or more student scientific and practical conferences. This group passed an in-depth course on preparation, organization, and holding of conferences and also participation in conferences of other universities.
At the second stage there was an open poll of students, which was conducted voluntarily. Prior to the survey, students were informed about the purposes and research objectives of the study.
The third stage was the analysis of the conducted research, determination of the influence of participation in scientific and practical student conferences on professionally significant personal qualities and general cultural competencies of students studying in the specialty “Veterinary”.
The following methods were used for the research: the pedagogical method of poll, which makes it possible to mark out personal qualities of students, and develop skills to participate in scientific conferences, the method of quantitative analysis of texts – content analysis and mathematical methods of analysis and synthesis of information by which the stages of preparation, organization and holding of student scientific and practical conferences, and personal qualities of future experts in veterinary, that can be influenced by each of these abovementioned stages.
Due to the research of acquisition and formation of general cultural competences in the process of participation in student scientific and practical conferences, it is possible to recommend to include participation in this kind of activity in the obligatory educational program of students studying in the specialty of veterinary.