PROFESSIONAL CULTURE OF A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AS A FACTOR OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DEVELOPMENT

Internationalization of Higher Education system leads to development of the international activities of Universities, opens up new opportunities for professional development of university professors, and makes educational services more competitive and qualitative. The most part of international educational agreements between Universities are the result of vigorous activity of teaching staff. Teachers find contacts with international Universities, develop international academic partnership and realize international educational programs. In this case, professional culture of the university teacher is very important for effective international cooperation. Professional culture has a wide definition that, except professional competence, it also includes a complex of aspects: cultural wealth, traditions, intentions, ideals, standards and ceremonies that are typical for this professional sphere. In the process of professional activity, professors develop and enrich their professional culture through their personal experience. Of course, the list of competencies, as a part of professional culture and competence of university lecturers, can be extended, supplemented and varied by the context. In the context of professional culture of the university teacher in the process of international cooperation, we defined two key competences: bilingual and multicultural. The higher level of bilingual competence the better chances to achieve the highest level of multicultural competence. Development of these competences, as well as professional culture of a university teacher, is the main condition of effective international cooperation, successful implementation of international educational programs and increasing University competitiveness at the international level. This facilitates the university teacher professionalism development and makes educational services more qualitative.