Modern Approaches to Teaching Political Science in Higher Education

Abstract

The article examines the transformation of methodological approaches to teaching political science in the context of contemporary global challenges and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It emphasizes that political education today functions as a strategic instrument of national security, cognitive resilience to propaganda and the formation of national identity. In the post-truth era, political knowledge is increasingly becoming a means of "information hygiene" and critical analysis of reality. The educational process in Ukraine is currently characterized by a number of challenges that require professional solutions. Particular attention is given to the growing urgency of restoring political science to the list of mandatory disciplines in higher education institutions since academic knowledge serves as a tool of ideological and intellectual resistance to the aggressor.

The shift toward subject-subject interaction in higher education is also examined, the teacher acts as a moderator and expert rather than merely a transmitter of political knowledge. The article explores contemporary approaches and methods of teaching political science in higher education and highlights the role of interactive teaching methods in developing both hard and soft skills among students. Special attention is devoted to the principles of teaching postgraduate students (PhD), where problem-oriented and project-based learning take priority, fostering the development of research competencies. At the same time, it is noted that the implementation of these methods requires thorough preparation, clear structuring of stages and well-developed assessment criteria. Furthermore, this approach presupposes mutual readiness on the part of both the teacher and the student. In particular, the teacher must not only possess in-depth knowledge of methodological tools but also be able to adapt them to the needs of a specific audience.