IT DISCIPLINES IN THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TEACHING IN UKRAINIAN AND CHINESE UNIVERSITIES

ІТ-ДИСЦИПЛІНИ В МІЖНАРОДНОМУ ОСВІТНЬОМУ КОНТЕКСТІ: ПОРІВНЯЛЬНЕ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ВИКЛАДАННЯ В УКРАЇНСЬКИХ ТА КИТАЙСЬКИХ УНІВЕРСИТЕТАХ

Abstract

This article highlights the importance of studying and comparing educational practices across different countries. It emphasizes the necessity of such analysis to enhance the teaching of IT disciplines in the context of digitalization and globalization. A comparative analysis of IT education is conducted between a Ukrainian university (Sumy National Agrarian University, SNAU) and a Chinese university (Harbin Institute of Science and Technology, HIST). The article is based on the authors’ teaching experience at both institutions, drawing on empirical data collected through student surveys, classroom observations, and informal interviews with students and faculty. The study focuses on first-year students of the “International Trades” program at HIST (China) and students majoring in “Entrepreneurship” and “Enterprise Economics” at SNAU (Ukraine), involving a total of 170 Chinese and 68 Ukrainian students. Key aspects analyzed include students’ prior technical background (noting the heterogeneous preparation among Chinese students and more uniform but often fragmented knowledge among Ukrainians), learning motivation (with stronger external motivators in China and greater emotional engagement in Ukraine), independent learning practices (higher activity observed among Chinese students), teaching styles (more formal and structured in China vs. informal and feedback-oriented in Ukraine), technical infrastructure, and academic culture in both educational contexts. The research identifies a range of intercultural differences that influence learning effectiveness and the nature of student-teacher interaction. Conclusions emphasize the need to adapt IT teaching methods to the cultural and educational characteristics of students. The study also provides practical recommendations for improving higher education practices through the integration of international experiences.