The meaning of the gift exchange concept for the system of education

the various aspects of the gift exchange theory in the context of neoliberal trends and demands for economization of all social spheres, including the spheres of education and professional teacher's training are considered in the article. On the basis of the analysis of the leading works on the gift exchange theory (P. Bourdieu, A. Giddens, J. Derrida, А. Kaye, and others) the authors made their point on the exchange gift theory as a model of inter-personal relations being productive for solving many problems including educational ones. Within the frames of the article the functions of giving gifts in a modern society are analyzed, and the fields, conditions, and gift exchange in various social and institutional systems are specified, the social-pedagogical purpose of the Service Learning curriculum that has got international recognition. The article is of social-pedagogical character; the theoretical thesis put forward by the authors may be used for the development of the theory of pedagogical interaction and new trends of educational management.