Professional training of future specialists-internationalists: experience of the USA and Canada

Abstract

The article analyzes the experience (history, theory, practice) of preparation of bachelors and masters of international relations in the USA and Canada. The features of the organization of specialists in international relations were shown, which is based on an interdisciplinary approach, and provides practical and theoretical stages with the possibility to continue research career. It is concluded that the mechanism of enrollment in the Master's program in International Relations of American and Canadian universities – is an effective, democratic, stimulating and controlled process that provides high-quality training of future masters. The importance of structural and functional organization of professional training specialists in international relations of American and Canadian system of university education based on interdisciplinary, cultural, acmeological, scientific and individually oriented approaches and principles of interdisciplinarity, interactivity, consistency, continuity is substantiated. Theoretical and methodological principles of the Master’s in International Relations professional training are the orientation of the content on global standards, labor market and personal needs, creative combination of theoretical and practical components, actualization of the students’ communicative needs and intercultural potential; development of research skills; formation of values and cultural concepts in international relations.
The specific features of the specialists’ in international relations professional training at the American and Canadian universities are revealed. They are: the correspondence of educational programs to the needs of science, economy and society; professional and scientific orientation of training; integration in the curriculum business-oriented and legal disciplines; focusing on the development of intercultural communication; diversification of practical training; cooperation with international organizations; internship opportunity within specific programs; active involvement of universities in the process of improvement the quality of education.