Directions and forms of work of the Ukrainian society of friendship with foreign students (1959-1991)

The article is devoted to the interaction of the Ukrainian public with foreign students in the era of socialism. Thanks to the Ukrainian society of friendship such a relationships were widespread. Individual and collective members of the sections of law, social sciences, pedagogical, medical and agricultural actively established and expanded contacts with foreign students. It is proved that it was conducted in three directions: organization of an exchange of student's groups of universities sworn brothers; assistance in training and the organization of leisure for students foreigners from socialist and developing countries; patronage of students from the USA and Canada. It is shown that the main forms of work with foreign students was the evenings of friendship, lectures, conversations, meetings with scientists, figures of culture and art, leaders of manufacture, the holding photo exhibitions, the exchange of literature and materials, establishing of links between different organizations, institutions, communities, regions, and the anniversary celebration of memorable dates. With U.S. and Canadian citizens practiced individual work, the basic forms of which were an invitation to study in the USSR, control of the learning, political and educational works and the organization of the tourist trips on the territory of the USSR. The content of the work of the Society in this direction was to introduce students to Soviet reality, life and culture of the Ukrainian people. However, excessive centralization, planning, ideologization and formalism reduce the possibilities of productive communication and played as a negative factor in the development of international educational and scientific contacts.