The importance of leadership is discussed widely in the social work literature. However, little is known about the leadership skills of social work students and factors affecting their development in the environment specific to higher educational institutions (HEIs). This research aimed to find out what skills pre-service social work students had related to leadership and to determine if significant differences existed in terms of such predictor variables as level and form of study, employment status, and involvement in co-curricular activities. The research employed the quantitative approach based on a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving a sample of 158 social work students from three Ukrainian universities. The research group consisted of 88% female and 12% male respondents, aged between 19 and 31. Data were obtained through the Student Leadership Outcomes Inventory, which contained 60 items measuring skills on 8 scales: (a) self-management, (b) interpersonal communication, (c) problem-solving and decision-making, (e) cognitive development and critical analysis, (f) organization and planning, (g) self-confidence, (h) diversity awareness, and (h) technology which served as outcome variables. All items were rated along a 5-point Likert scale, from poor (1) to excellent (5). The results of the research revealed lower than average levels of leadership skills and existing significant differences by outcome variables for the sample population. The findings suggest the need to strengthen the leadership skills of social work students through the implementation of formal and informal developmental activities and recognition of leadership participation within the social work curriculum. Keywords: descriptive cross-sectional survey, leadership development, leadership skills, pre-service social work students, social work.

<p>Reorientacja pracy społecznej na poziomie lokalnym świadczenia usług socjalnych, odbywająca się na Ukrainie w wyniku reformy decentralizacji władzy, aktualizuje przygotowania pracowników socjalnych do pracy w danej społeczności. W artykule przedstawiono aktualny stan rozwoju i wdrażania programów edukacyjnych ze specjalizacją w pracy socjalnej w społeczności na różnych poziomach szkolnictwa wyższego. Wyniki badań wykazały, że instytucje szkolnictwa wyższego nie były przygotowane na szybkie reagowanie na publiczne prośby o szkolenie specjalistów w zakresie pracy socjalnej w zjednoczonych społecznościach terytorialnych. Ustalono, że w 2017 r. możliwość uzyskania specjalizacji w pracy socjalnej w społeczności oferował tylko jeden program edukacyjny na studiach licencjackich i cztery na studiach magisterskich. Przeanalizowano straty i korzyści ukraińskich instytucji szkolnictwa wyższego wynikające z wdrażania takich programów. Zrozumienie istniejących barier, a także możliwości, jakie instytucje szkolnictwa wyższego odnoszą z wdrażania programów pracy socjalnej we wspólnotowej pracy socjalnej, jest niezbędne do określenia celowych oraz do prowadzenia systematycznych wspólnych działań na rzecz rozwoju zawodu, społeczności lokalnych i społeczeństwa jako całości.</p>

The purpose of the article is to identify trends in the development of inclusive education in Ukraine and related challenges. Their understanding and consideration in the formation of educational policy will contribute to a more successful process of its implementation. To achieve this goal, the method of desk research was used. It is established that at present the main trends in the implementation of an inclusive approach in education are the focus on the development of a multi-track model, a significant increase in special and inclusive classes of secondary schools and students who study there, decrease in the number of special educational institutions. Difficulties in implementation of inclusive approach in education are associated with the lack of a common understanding of inclusive education, the imperfection of the regulatory framework, the institutional weakness of the newly established amalgamated territorial communities which are responsible for the introduction of inclusive approach at the local level, the uncoordinated efforts of state and local governments, poor material and technical resources of educational institutions, lack of qualified teachers prepared to work with children in conditions of inclusive education

ABSTRACT. The paper analyses the key issues related to dual degree social work programs in Ukraine. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed to explore the overall number of programs, the levels and types of degrees they award, Heads of Social Work Departments' perceptions and attitudes towards dual degree programs. The survey results have shown there are no dual degree social work programs in Ukraine, but the majority of respondents (81%) expressed confidence in positive outcomes of implementation of these programs both for students and higher education institutions. Some reservations were conveyed which highlighted difficulties for institutions in implementation and for students in completing these programs. The authors prove that combining social work with other fields of study within undergraduate or graduate dual degree programs is relevant to the labour market's and the profession's demands, and educational needs of practitioners. It also suits the interests of social work programs being one of the ways to address the challenges that higher education reform in Ukraine presents for social work education. The paper offers a platform to further discuss the value and possibilities of dual degree programs' implementation under the current situation in social work education in Ukraine.

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to develop teachers’ inclusive competence in the system of postgraduate education. The article analyzes inclusive competence as a component of the professionalism of a modern teacher. The main attention is focused on the analysis of the peculiarities of the organization of the educational process at the Postgraduate Education Centre in the scope of formation of teachers’ inclusive competence. The content of educational programs has been revealed. The effectiveness of the implementation of the acmeological approach in the formation of inclusive competence of students of advanced training courses has been proved. In the practical section of the research it has been established that the developed educational programs not only contribute to the formation of inclusive competence, but also stimulate self-educational activities.