IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIONS IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC MOBILITY
Abstract
The purpose of the study. The purpose of this study is to analyze innovative approaches to the organization of psychological support for students participating in academic mobility programs, as well as to assess their impact on the success of intercultural adaptation, psychological well-being and the development of professional competencies. In the context of the globalization of higher education, academic mobility programs create new opportunities for gaining international educational experience, expanding cultural horizons and developing competitive specialists. The study was performed using a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis. The study involved university students enrolled in academic mobility programs (academic exchanges, international internships, joint educational programs). The quantitative stage included a questionnaire aimed at assessing stress levels, adaptation difficulties, and satisfaction with the existing psychological support system. The qualitative stage included conducting semi-structured interviews with students, teachers, and university psychologists, as well as analyzing cases of higher education institutions implementing innovative models of psychological support for participants in academic mobility. The conducted research allows us to conclude that the introduction of innovative models of psychological support is one of the key factors for the successful implementation of academic mobility programs. Traditional forms of psychological counseling do not fully meet the modern challenges that arise in the process of teaching students in an international educational environment. In this regard, higher education institutions are recommended to use an integrated approach combining digital technologies of psychological support, mentoring and peer support systems for students, intercultural training programs and activities aimed at developing psychological resilience. The comprehensive modernization of the psychological support system helps to increase the effectiveness of academic mobility, strengthen the psychological well-being of students and strengthen the competitiveness of higher education institutions in the context of internationalization of education.