The article devoted to the problem of the facilitation of studying in higher education. Along with the history of the student-centered approach in teaching, it discusses the need for the formation of a new type of relationship between student and teacher: relations of cooperation and mutual understanding. Individual and personal competences of the teacher are considered, among which the communicative one is important. Particular attention is paid to the description of specific innovative techniques that involve the great number of students as soon as possible. These techniques have been tested by the authors during their own pedagogical experience while working with medical students of the University in the process of teaching courses in philosophy, bioethics and culture, and have established themselves as highly productive.