Development of the concept of general cultural competency: analyzing the third generation of the Federal state education standards of higher education

The paper is devoted to the way the concept of general cultural competency is interpreted by the Federal State Education Standards of Higher Education. General cultural competency of a graduate is regarded as one of the learning outcomes and as a crucial factor of the student’s personality development. The author addresses the description of the outcomes arising from mastering major educational programs, covering diverse profiles and levels of vocational training. The aim pursued is to reveal the way these results correspond to the requirements to train a new type specialist characterized not only by high professional qualities but also by general personal culture and educated behavior. The author points at some shortcomings linked with the description of the results of educational activity in terms of general cultural competency, testifying to a low degree of standardization of these results postulated by the Federal State Education Standards. Since the 3+ generation standards eliminate the exposed shortcomings only partially, there is a hope that they will be completely eradicated by the 4th generation of the federal standards...