Three Seas Economic Journal

64

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms 
of the Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 4.0

1 Kherson State University, Ukraine (corresponding author)
E-mail: perminova@i.ua
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6818-3179

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30525/2661-5150/2022-3-10

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY IN THE CONTEXT  
OF SOCIO-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION

Liudmila Perminova1

Abstract. The article is devoted to the problem of development of scientific diplomacy of educational  
institutions by means of creative cooperation. The main task of scientific diplomacy to form the image of the 
educational institution and interpersonal relations of all participants in the educational process is substantiated. 
Attention is paid to the communicative activity as a phenomenon of scientific creativity; the theoretical  
content of the concepts of "diplomacy", "communicative culture", "educational diplomacy" is considered;  
diagnostics of the readiness of educational institutions for the development of educational and scientific  
diplomacy is carried out. The conducted analysis of the essence of pedagogical interaction in an educational 
institution allows us to conclude that the concept of "educational diplomacy" is a rather complex and  
multifaceted concept that is used in various spheres of human activity, covers a large number of objects and 
phenomena, as it is manifested in the educational process, personal interaction, technological processes, 
communications, etc. The article also pays attention to the development of science diplomacy, peculiarities 
of its implementation and influence on the generation of international initiatives in the globalized world.  
Using a comparative methodology, the approaches to understanding science diplomacy in domestic and foreign 
discourse are analyzed, taking into account the existing practice of its application. It is established that science 
diplomacy, as a type of public diplomacy, serves as a means of promoting and protecting the national interests  
of the state, and also plays a regulatory role in a complex system of international interaction. At the same time, 
science diplomacy can serve to solve specific foreign policy tasks of regional importance – first of all with 
neighboring countries in the fields of ecology, forecasting and elimination of the consequences of natural and 
man-made disasters, mining and rational use of marine natural resources, in the social and humanitarian sphere. 
The availability of permanent and sufficient funding for bilateral scientific projects on such topics, especially with 
neighboring countries, can actually be a manifestation of scientific diplomacy for establishing good international 
relations. Developing the institution of science diplomacy, it is extremely important to maintain a balance of 
interaction between scientific and political components, to prevent the use of political tools in the scientific sphere.  
It is also extremely important that scientific and diplomatic goals remain transparent to avoid manipulation of 
science for political purposes and to prevent politicization of science. The results of the study give grounds to 
assert that the development of educational diplomacy is a priority area of personal development and professional 
development of scientists and teachers of educational institutions, based on psychological and pedagogical theory  
and practice and focused on subject-subject relations in work. This direction is consistently implemented in the 
process of studying in the system of postgraduate pedagogical education by acquiring the necessary competencies, 
gradual improvement of communicative qualities and accumulation of experience in communicative interaction.

Key words: science diplomacy, scientific cooperation, educational diplomacy, diplomacy for science.

JEL Classification: М14, D61, I31, I38, Z10

1. Introduction
The dominant trend of modern social development 

is the integration of intellectual potentials and 
technologies. Combining the efforts of scientists 
from different countries significantly expands the 
boundaries of knowledge. The growing trend of 

international scientific and technical cooperation is  
the most characteristic feature of modern science and 
an important tool for its global internationalization.

Countries with sufficient scientific potential have 
additional opportunities to realize their interests 
both within individual regions and in the space of 



Three Seas Economic Journal

65

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
world politics as a whole. Science diplomacy is of  
particular importance, because, on the one hand, it 
ensures the national interests of the state through the 
use of a wide range of classical and specific foreign 
policy actions that determine the prospects and  
status of the state in the international arena, and on  
the other hand, it creates additional means of counte-
racting global challenges of today (Berkman, 2018).

Terrible events in Ukraine, the beginning of a  
full-scale war forced Ukrainians to break into the 
scientific and educational European space. Thousands 
of scientists, women and children were forced to 
become temporarily displaced persons, fleeing from 
the occupation and the front line. Highly educated  
scientists and teachers were left without jobs (many 
universities in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv were physically 
destroyed), without homes, without their scientific 
achievements in home archives. They are forced to  
look for a job and actually start all over again, so the  
issues of science diplomacy and integration require 
thorough research, the need to develop a new  
paradigm and a new concept for the development of 
science diplomacy, scientific and educational space 
in Europe and around the world. Such turbulent 
simultaneity has created a unique synergistic effect 
and forced the integration of educational systems of 
different countries.

Joining the European educational space leads to the 
possibility of introducing pedagogical innovations  
that will contribute to the formation of a new strategy 
for the development of the world educational system, 
one of the vectors of which is to increase the level 
of pedagogical interaction of the subjects of the 
pedagogical process and improve the ways of education 
development. It has already become clear that  
education is the basis of intellectual, spiritual, physical 
and cultural development of the nation, through 
successful socialization and economic prosperity,  
the key to the development of a society united by 
common values, culture, development of self-awareness 
and self-identification of statehood (Romanova, 2017). 

2. Terminological definition of  
"science diplomacy" and its role in the  
socio-cultural development of the country

Certain types of diplomacy, such as economic,  
trade, energy, social, information, cultural, etc. are 
increasingly becoming the subject of research in  
scientific publications. Recently, the topic of science 
diplomacy has become the subject of domestic  
scientific discourse, although in the context of the 
concept of "soft power", which is considered in the  
works of M. G. Kapitonenko, O. V. Levchenko, 
Myronchuk O. (2019).

The works of P. Berkman (2018), R . Holt (2015), 
and V. Turekyan are devoted to the problems of the  

scientific dimension of politics in general, as well  
as the place of science diplomacy in the field of  
foreign policy.

The foreign experience of the use and implemen- 
tation of science diplomacy, which is increasingly 
considered by scientists in different countries, was 
also investigated in the works of M. V. Silantieva,  
O. M. Kharitonova, R . O. Reinhardt, and K. A. Ibra-
himova (Fedoroff, 2009; Science diplomacy, 2022).

Despite the fact that modern scientific research 
is quite multifaceted, in the domestic scientific  
discourse, insufficient attention is paid to the issues 
of interstate cooperation in the form of science 
diplomacy, the peculiarities of its implementation,  
and the improvement of the practice of making 
mutually acceptable political and economic decisions  
of countries through the use of science diplomacy.  
Since February 2022, this problem has instantly 
aggravated and actualized due to the outbreak of a  
full-scale war in Ukraine.

As of 01.05.2022, 88 educational institutions were 
completely destroyed, 869 institutions were partially 
damaged, 33 institutions of higher and vocational  
higher education were forced to leave the places 
of permanent displacement and moved to other  
territories to organize the educational process 
(Word and Deed: Analytical Portal, 2022). It is clear 
that science diplomacy as a format of support and  
interaction should be used both inside and outside 
Ukraine.

In view of this, the urgent need to strengthen 
science diplomacy in Ukraine's foreign policy should 
be considered in the leapfrog aspect of revolutionary 
impulses, as a consequence of the declared course of 
integration into the European and world scientific space.

That is why the issue of science diplomacy requires 
a comprehensive study both in terms of its theoretical 
aspects and existing world practices adapted to 
the possibilities of modern realities. Therefore, the 
purpose of the article is to analyze the approaches 
to understanding science diplomacy established in 
domestic and foreign discourse, as well as to clarify 
the peculiarities of its implementation and influence  
on the generation of international initiatives in the 
context of socio-cultural development.

To understand the practical value of using the 
tools of science diplomacy, it is advisable to consider  
modern theoretical approaches to the concept of 
"science diplomacy " and its main components.

Science diplomacy is generally understood as the use 
of scientific cooperation between countries to solve 
common problems and build constructive international 
partnerships. Science diplomacy has become an 
umbrella term for a range of formal or informal scientific 
and technical exchanges. It is important to note that 
there is no single approach to the interpretation or 
definition of this form of international interaction.



Three Seas Economic Journal

66

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
The directions of science diplomacy that have  

already become "classical" are scientific and infor-
mation support (science in diplomacy); promotion 
of international scientific cooperation (diplomacy 
for science); the use of scientific cooperation to 
improve relations between countries (science for 
diplomacy) – were formulated in the report on the 
results of the conference "New Horizons of Science 
Diplomacy ", organized by the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science in cooperation  
with the Royal Society (UK) in June 2009 (Zewail 
Ahmed, 2010).

In 2017, scientific advisers to the foreign ministers 
of the United States, New Zealand, Great Britain  
and Japan formulated the concept of science  
diplomacy as actions aimed at directly promoting 
the national needs of the country; actions aimed at 
addressing cross-border interests; actions aimed at 
meeting global needs and challenges (Enhancing  
and focusing EU, 2012).

Today, science diplomacy is also understood as 
a global service that should use scientific cooperation 
between states to solve common problems and create 
constructive international partnerships (Materials of 
the conference, 2021).

Paul Berkman, who is engaged in the research of 
science diplomacy, believes that trust and successful 
interaction among scientists from different countries 
causes the emergence of a wave-like "goodwill effect", 
and science diplomacy offers a unique opportunity  
for building a common future (Berkman, 2018). 

Highlighting certain features of diplomatic activity 
in the scientific sphere, this issue should be linked  
to the security factor, since the national security  
of the state largely depends on its intellectual,  
scientific and technical potential.

Leading scientific organizations that implement 
strategic goals to ensure the national interests of the 
state in the scientific and technical sphere, together 
with professional diplomats, lay the foundation  
for the implementation of the state's scientific policy  
in the international arena. The architecture of such 
policy depends on cooperation of diplomatic structures, 
scientific institutions and centers in the spheres of 
scientific and technical information exchange, joint 
research, analytical work, implementation of joint 
scientific programs, etc.

Thus, science diplomacy is becoming increasingly 
important for solving global problems, working on  
the implementation of two groups of tasks – classical 
and modern, determined by the dynamism of  
scientific and technological progress in the 21st century, 
as well as existing challenges and potential threats.

Science as a tool of diplomacy and one of the 
components of "soft power" has been used in many 
countries for several decades. Significant experience 
in the use of "soft power" has been accumulated by 

the leading countries of the world, in particular, the  
United States, the European Union and Asian countries 
(Turekian Vaughan, Neureiter Norman, 2012).

One of the first steps in this direction was the creation 
in 1931 of the International Council of Scientific  
Unions, today – the International Council for Science 
(ICS), whose resources and tools are aimed at 
developing scientific solutions to world problems.  
The fundamental principle of the International 
Council for Science is the universality of science, 
which confirms the right and freedom of scientists  
to unite in international scientific activities regardless 
of such factors as ethnicity, religion, citizenship, 
language, political beliefs, etc. (New frontiers in  
science diplomacy, 2010).

An example of science diplomacy is the 
European Organization for Nuclear Research 
(CERN) – an international research center of the 
European community, the world's largest laboratory 
of high-energy physics. This influential international 
organization consists of 23 member states, 5 associate 
members, including Ukraine, as well as countries 
with observer status. In total, about 80 countries  
participate in CERN activities in one form or 
another. Today, about 12000 researchers from more 
than 600 scientific centers and universities work on  
the experimental equipment of CERN – this is half  
of all physicists-researchers of the microcosm 
(Mironchuk, 2019).

Today, the American Association for the  
Advancement of Science (AAAS) is actively working  
in the field of science diplomacy. This is an interna-
tional non-profit organization whose efforts are 
aimed at promoting cooperation between scientists, 
protecting freedom of research, encouraging scientific 
responsibility, supporting education and science.  
The Association is a powerful scientific community  
and publisher of the famous scientific journal  
"Science" with a weekly circulation of more than one 
hundred thousand copies. The Association has a  
Center for Science Diplomacy, which aims to use  
science and scientific cooperation to promote 
international understanding.

No less unique example of international cooperation 
through the instruments of science diplomacy is the 
European Research Area (ERA), which has become 
an ecosystem of interaction between scientists and 
policymakers from different EU countries in order 
to increase the competitiveness of the EU as a whole.  
The uniqueness of the ERA lies in the duality of 
the purpose of its creation, because on the way to a  
common goal there are always contradictions that 
require a compromise and the need to coordinate  
the internal interests of countries, even in the field 
of science. To solve this complex task, the European 
Commission has built a structured system of  
advisory and working bodies that deal with the 



Three Seas Economic Journal

67

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
formation of a common research strategy and 
priorities – the European Research Area and  
Innovation Committee (ERAC), the development of 
joint research infrastructures – the European Strategic 
Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), the 
formation and implementation of research programs 
and projects, etc. Such bodies are composed of  
state-nominated experts from a cohort of scientists 
whose main task is to represent and secure the interests  
of their own countries through the prism of 
demonstrating the active position and significant 
contribution of each country to the common good 
(Nye, Joseph S. Jr., 2011).

The last condition is the key to success, because  
in the world of science diplomacy you are worth and  
have the right to vote exactly as much as your 
contribution to solving common scientific problems.

As a rule, countries that invest huge resources  
in their R&D sector can definitely shape the global 
technological agenda and achieve foreign policy goals 
with the help of science diplomacy tools.

At the same time, science diplomacy can serve 
to solve specific foreign policy tasks of regional 
importance – first of all with neighboring countries 
in the fields of ecology, forecasting and elimination  
of the consequences of natural and man-made  
disasters, mining and rational use of marine natural 
resources, in the social and humanitarian sphere. 
The availability of permanent and sufficient funding 
for bilateral scientific projects on such topics, 
especially with neighboring countries, can actually 
be a manifestation of scientific diplomacy for  
establishing good international relations. In any case, 
the presence of a background of scientific cooperation  
in the sensitive topics allows real diplomacy to have 
a non-zero starting point for political dialogue and 
historical memory, for example, regarding the issue  
of ecological monitoring of the Danube Delta 
or historical-cultural dialogue in Zakarpattia or  
Volhynia (Pyschak, 2021).

Each country has developed its own system of 
implementation and functioning of science diplomacy. 
Of particular interest for Ukraine is the European 
experience of using the instruments of science 
diplomacy in view of the intensification of Ukraine's 
European integration course, in particular the  
common research area, as well as the fact that the  
EU is an active participant and donor of modern  
reforms in Ukraine, a significant part of which is  
directly related to the scientific sphere.

3. Ukrainian context  
of science diplomacy development

For the first time in the history of Ukraine,  
the MFA has developed and approved the Public 
Diplomacy Strategy for 2021–2025. The Public 

Diplomacy Strategy outlines the goal, objectives,  
key areas of activity in the relevant field for the  
medium term, ensuring the synergy of diplomatic 
 and cultural policies. It was developed in the context  
of the Foreign Policy Concept of Ukraine and reflects 
its main provisions (Strategy of public diplomacy, 
2020).

In addition to clear and measurable goals and 
objectives, the document defines seven main areas 
of public diplomacy: economic; expert; cultural;  
scientific and educational; digital; sports; culinary.

It is noteworthy that in the Strategy of the  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for 2021–2023, 
the term "science and education diplomacy " appeared, 
which is defined as a direction of public diplomacy 
that promotes building strong partnerships with  
other countries through scientific and educational 
exchange; addressing global, regional and national 
challenges using scientific achievements; forming 
foreign policy decisions based on evidence.

Education and science are important factors of  
socio-cultural diplomacy. Science is an environment 
free from the influence of political ideologies, where 
ideas can be exchanged despite cultural, national  
and religious differences (Strategy of public  
diplomacy, 2020). 

The concept of "science diplomacy " appeared 
relatively recently and is now distinguished as an 
independent direction of the state's foreign policy.

The purpose of science diplomacy is to promote  
the deepening of international cooperation in the  
field of science and education. Educational diplomacy  
is inextricably linked with science diplomacy, because  
for most modern universities, which are the main  
subjects of educational diplomacy, successful 
functioning is possible only in an inseparable 
combination of scientific, educational and commercial 
activities (Rozumna, Chernenko, 2016).

Educational diplomacy involves the definition of 
a new content of relations and mission of organizational 
culture in the educational institution, focused on  
the modern needs of teachers, students, parents, the 
state and society, international mobility of students, 
teachers, university staff, the growing interest of 
educational institutions in attracting foreign students, 
the optimal combination of all needs into a single 
cultural and educational whole, which is a living 
organism with humanistic principles and tolerant rules 
(Bukina, Perminova, 2021).

There are several definitions of the term "educational 
diplomacy ". The most successful, in the authors'  
opinion, is the statement that educational diplomacy  
is a means of forming the image of an educational 
institution and an opportunity to show Ukraine 
to the world with the help of intellectual potential 
and professionalism (Myronchuk, 2019). This 
became especially important in 2022, in the midst of  



Three Seas Economic Journal

68

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
Ukraine's full-scale war against Russia, when a large 
number of PhDs and Doctors of Sciences were forced 
to become temporary migrants and were forced to 
move to European countries. Many of them got jobs  
in educational institutions abroad and were able not 
only to confirm their status, but also to define a new 
approach to existing models of education.

The authors would like to define the following 
functions of educational and scientific diplomacy:
– promotion of values through their study and research;
– an informational function designed to inform and 
educate;
– the development of socio-cultural relations, that 
is successfully carried out in universities where 
representatives of different countries study;
– promotion of positive perception of culture and 
national identity through education.

Ukraine has a fairly extensive network of higher 
education institutions, which as of 2022 had quite 
serious international relations and great potential 
to influence foreign audiences – through foreign  
students, politicians, diplomats, scientists, educators 
from foreign countries, etc. International university 
cooperation is undoubtedly the most effective form  
of scientific and educational diplomacy.

Believe that now, despite the change in the model 
of relations, this cooperation will be even stronger 
and more effective. Ukrainian higher education  
institutions play a significant role in interstate relations. 
This especially emphasizes and strengthens the fact 
of the presence of national minorities in the regions 
where educational institutions are located, the study  
of language, history, culture, contacts of higher  
education institutions with organizations of the 
countries of origin of national minorities, etc.

Already now, in 2022, the Ministry of Education 
and Science of Ukraine recommends Ukrainian 
universities to take advantage of the opportunities 
to attract additional funding for the development of 
science, material and technical base, participation 
in international student and faculty mobility 
programs through programs funded by the EU, other  
foundations and international organizations, as the  
EU and almost all countries of the world support 
Ukraine in its struggle and help it to survive until  
the victory for its independence.

There are certain channels of science and educational 
diplomacy that include:
– digital: websites, social networks, YouTube  
channels, personal blogs, vlogs, eLearning platforms;
– media: local and international, all-Ukrainian,  
regional mass media – TV, radio, online, print;
– events: activities.

The tools of such diplomacy are quite diverse:
– scientific research;
– participation in the international conferences, 
seminars;

– scientific meetings organized by one of the parties;
– exchange of lecturers for giving lectures and 
consultations;
– development of joint courses;
– publication of the results of scientific works in 
periodicals;
– exchange of scientific literature;
– organization of joint cultural events;
– submission of joint projects for obtaining external 
grants;
– exchange of lecturers/students/researchers;
– studying under double degree programs.

4. Improving the instruments  
of science diplomacy development

At the first global meeting on science diplomacy 
"EU Science Diplomacy beyond 2020" in Madrid 
in December 2018, the "Madrid Declaration on 
Science Diplomacy " was signed, which addresses the 
need to strengthen science diplomacy strategies and  
practices around the world to support universal  
scientific and democratic values.

In the context of this Declaration, science diplomacy 
is seen as a set of practices at the intersection of 
science, technology and foreign policy: clearer  
science diplomacy strategies at the national and 
supranational levels will allow for better alignment 
of interests and more effective coordination of  
resources (Madrid Declaration, 2019).

Today, the modern world is experiencing  
economic, political and religious "turbulence", which 
puts new demands on science diplomacy. As noted  
by the former UN Secretary General (1997–2006)  
Kofi Annan, "95% of the world's new science is  
created in countries where only one fifth of the  
world's population lives." (Zewail Ahmed, 2010)

On the other hand, the existing risks are also 
associated with stimulating the transfer of not only  
new but also outdated technologies to countries  
where their use is still economically feasible 
(Myronchuk, 2019).

Therefore, one of the urgent tasks of science 
diplomacy is to support new scientific communities  
of those countries that are in the process of building 
their own scientific potential.

Science diplomacy is designed to help understand 
current trends and challenges that stand in the way of 
progress, and this, in turn, requires greater recognition 
of the scientific drivers of the new diplomacy  
(Holt Rush, 2015).

Experts in the field of science diplomacy are  
convinced that countries should use one of their 
best currencies – science – to achieve foreign policy  
goals, and the term "scientopolitics" should enter the 
lexicon of diplomacy. Back in 1999, the US National 
Academy of Sciences concluded that thirteen of the 



Three Seas Economic Journal

69

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
sixteen US foreign policy goals are related to science  
and technology (Тurekian Vaughan, Neureiter  
Norman, 2012). 

The authors believe that the scientific and  
educational potential for the development of scientific 
and socio-cultural diplomacy is just beginning to 
manifest itself in Ukraine. Therefore, it is important 
to focus on solving a number of issues. This will be 
especially relevant immediately after the victory and  
the beginning of the reconstruction of the country.  
The key issues include the following:
1) Formation of its own model of international  
activity, which provides for cooperation with  
ministries of education, diplomatic and consular 
institutions, local governments, city halls, educational 
institutions, foundations, state and public  
organizations of foreign countries. 
2) Establishment of an appropriate unit within the 
structure of each university to implement the strategy  
of international activities of the university. Its 
work should be aimed at developing, expanding 
and strengthening international relations and the  
authority of the university in the world educational  
and scientific community, that is:
– establishment of international relations with foreign 
partners (universities), organizations, associations, 
scientific institutions through the conclusion of  
bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements; 
– organization, coordination and control of inter-
national programs and university academic mobility;
– organizational and documentation support of  
foreign internships, international exchange programs, 
"double diploma", etc;
– informing about international scientific and 
educational grant programs, projects, funds, 
scholarships;
– organization of visits and receptions of foreign 
specialists and delegations;
– reporting on the results of the university 's inter-
national activities.
3) Expansion of academic mobility of the University, 
its integration into the world and European  
educational and scientific space through the  
involvement of students, graduate students, faculty, 
researchers to participate in international projects, 
programs and research.

In general, academic mobility involves the 
involvement of participants in the educational 
process of the university in the educational process of  
another higher education institution (scientific 
institution) in Ukraine or abroad, conducting research 
with the possibility of re-enrollment of mastered 
disciplines in the prescribed manner.

The right to academic mobility can be realized  
on the basis of international agreements on  
cooperation in the field of education and science, 
international programs and projects, agreements 

between Ukrainian or foreign higher education 
institutions (scientific institutions), their main  
structural units, and can also be realized by the 
participant of the educational process on his own 
initiative, on the basis of individual invitations and  
other mechanisms.

According to the place of implementation of 
the right to academic mobility it is divided into 
internal and international. International academic 
mobility is the participation of representatives of the 
educational process of the university in the educational,  
scientific and pedagogical or scientific activities of 
a foreign higher education institution, scientific 
institution, organization for a certain period. The  
optimal period is considered to be a semester or one 
academic year. Academic mobility programs should 
correspond to the educational activities of the university.
4) The educational process at the university should 
be organized in accordance with modern standards 
of quality education, which, in particular, initiate 
the development of international cooperation of 
universities and the process of internationalization  
of higher education. Thus, with the assistance of the 
British Council in Ukraine, more than 20 Ukrainian 
higher education institutions received grants for  
study visits and partnerships with British universities  
in various fields (Pyschak, 2021).
5) Stimulation of scientific research through the 
formation of scientific schools, scientific departments, 
staff researchers, scientifically active students at 
universities, as science at universities is an important 
segment of science in the state. University science has 
three important areas of application:
– use of the latest achievements of science in the 
formation of adequate content of education (new 
textbooks, manuals, specialties and educational and 
professional programs);
– training of scientific personnel through postgraduate 
and doctoral studies;
– a source of new knowledge, a base of the latest 
innovative educational technologies.
6) Systematic and coordinated efforts towards the 
development of educational and scientific diplomacy  
of the university in order to improve the quality of  
higher education; increase the efficiency of scientific 
research; enrich the individual experience of  
participants in the educational process by 
familiarizing themselves with other models of 
creating and disseminating knowledge; Increasing  
the competitiveness of both graduates and the 
university as a whole in the Ukrainian and inter- 
national markets of educational services and labor; 
creating a positive image among Ukrainian and foreign 
higher education institutions. Concretization of the 
directions of diplomacy is promising.

These provisions formed the basis of our beliefs 
in identifying the features, directions, levels of 



Three Seas Economic Journal

70

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
development of educational diplomacy in the  
education system, in connection with which 
a diagnostic study was conducted, because  
educational diplomacy is the interaction of all 
participants in the educational process. Diplomatic  
art is the professionalism of a manager, reduced 
to creativity, that is, an activity that generates a  
qualitatively new level of professionalism. Here are  
the main results of the study among 46 pedagogical 
workers to determine the level of development  
of educational diplomacy in the institution of  
vocational (vocational-technical) education (Table 1) 
(Pyschak, 2021).

The results of the survey (Table 1) showed that the 
majority of teachers of vocational (vocational-technical) 
education institutions consider communication 
qualities to be important for their professional  
activity, with the majority of respondents preferring  
to listen rather than talk. Almost half of the  
respondents (55.5%) can find a topic for conversation 
with a stranger. The question "Do you like to give 
advice?" was answered by respondents on a scale from 
6 to 8 points. If the conversation is not interesting, 
more than half of teachers (88.7%) hide it from the 
interlocutor. The study also showed that 76.3% of 
teachers get annoyed when they are not listened to 
and almost all respondents have their own opinion on  
any issue.

In communication, teachers are attracted by 
the exchange of ideas, receiving new information,  
expanding their horizons, that is, 85% of respondents 
said that they like to be in the spotlight. Instead,  
only 36% of teachers consider themselves good speakers.

The study identified ways to improve the develop-
ment of educational diplomacy for heads of  
educational institutions:
– рroviding the management staff of educational 
institutions with knowledge of the psychology of 
communication of managers (through lecture courses, 
online courses, special seminars and psychological 

counseling during in-service training courses in the 
system of postgraduate pedagogical education);
– formation of communicative competence (through 
interactive trainings);
– raising the level of communication culture in 
educational institutions – it is advisable to use inno-
vative technologies (discussions, didactic and business 
games, trainings, projects, multimedia learning tools, 
web blogs, technologies for the development of  
critical thinking, etc.);
– an important vector for the effective development 
of educational diplomacy for educational institutions 
is organized self-education, which is used to solve a  
wide range of problems in the educational sphere 
and can be successfully adapted in the process of 
developing the communication culture of heads of  
educational institutions.

The conducted analysis of the essence of  
pedagogical interaction in an educational 
institution allows us to conclude that the concept of  
"educational diplomacy " is a rather complex and 
multifaceted concept that is used in various spheres 
of human activity, covers a large number of objects 
and phenomena, as it is manifested in the educational 
process, personal interaction, technological processes, 
communications, etc. Educational diplomacy 
contributes to the implementation of qualitative 
changes in the pedagogical system (in education, in the 
upbringing of students, in the educational and socio-
cultural environment), forms a high level of culture 
of relations between the subjects of the educational 
process in the context of humanistic relations.

5. Conclusions 
Science diplomacy is a new and progressive  

direction of development of the system of international 
relations. The development of science diplomacy 
mechanisms as a type of public diplomacy should 
become one of the key elements of the state scientific 

Table 1 
The level of development of educational diplomacy in vocational (vocational and technical) education

Question
Answer options (%)

Yes No
1. Do you prefer to listen rather than talk? 66,7 32,4
2. Can you always find a topic to talk to a stranger? 55,5 42,7
3. Do you always listen carefully to the interviewer? 77,7 21,3
4. Do you like to give advice? Define on a 10-point scale 44,2 32,3
5. If the topic of conversation is not interesting to you, do you hide it from the interlocutor? 88,7 11,6
6. Do you get annoyed when you are not listened to? 76,3 21,9
7. Do you have your own opinion on any issue? 73,4 22,2
8. If you do not know the topic of the conversation, will you continue the conversation? 55,4 47,8
9. Do you like to be in the spotlight? 43,2 55,8
10. Are there at least three areas of your activity in which you have sufficiently deep knowledge? 65,4 33,7
11. Do you consider yourself a good speaker? 53,7 43,2

Source: compiled by the authors based on (Pyschak, 2021)



Three Seas Economic Journal

71

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
and technical policy of Ukraine. The tasks of the 
development of Ukrainian science should include  
the formation of such a model of international  
scientific and technical cooperation and international 
integration in the field of research and technological 
development, which allows to protect the identity 
of the national scientific sphere and state interests in 
the context of internationalization of science and to  
increase the efficiency of Ukrainian science through 
mutually beneficial international cooperation.

The development of science diplomacy in our  
country, given the significant scientific potential, is 
an extremely promising area of activity of the society,  
which requires more active promotion of the 
possibilities of Ukrainian scientific potential and 
intensification of work on the popularization of 
Ukrainian science; attraction of international funds  
for the implementation of scientific projects; 
strengthening of academic mobility programs –  
exchange of scientists and specialists, especially  
young scientists and students; creation of centers 
of excellence; creation of conditions for full parti-
cipation of domestic scientists in international  
projects; development of a consistent and 

comprehensive, not fragmented policy in the field of 
science diplomacy.

In the process of developing the institute of science 
diplomacy, it is extremely important to maintain 
a balance between the interaction of scientific and 
political components, to prevent the use of political 
instruments in the scientific sphere. It is also  
extremely important that scientific and diplomatic  
goals remain transparent to avoid manipulation 
of science for political purposes and to prevent 
politicization of science.

The results of the study are the basis for the 
statement that the development of educational 
diplomacy is a priority direction of personal and 
professional development of scientists and teachers  
of educational institutions. It is based on psychological 
and pedagogical theory and practice and is focused 
on subject-subject relations in work. This direction 
is consistently implemented during the educational 
process in the system of postgraduate pedagogical 
education by acquiring the necessary competencies, 
gradual improvement of communicative qualities 
and accumulation of experience in communicative 
interaction.

References:
Berkman, P. A. (2018). Could science diplomacy be the key to stabilizing international relations?  
The Conversation US. 2018. June 12. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/could- 
science-diplomacy-be-the-key-to-stabilizing-international-relations/?redirect=1 
Bukina, T., & Perminova, L. (2021). Cultural diplomacy: institutional contexts. Three Seas Economic Journal,  
vol. 2, no. 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30525/2661-5150/2021-4-5
Enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation in research and innovation: A strategic approach.  
Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/pdf/policy/com_2012_497_communication_from_commission_
to_inst_en.pdf 
Holt Rush (2015). Scientific drivers for diplomacy. Science & Diplomacy, vol. 4, no. 2 ( June). Available at:  
http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/perspective/2015/scientific-drivers-for-diplomacy
Fedoroff, N. V. (2009). Science diplomacy in the 21st century. Cell, vol. 136, issue 1, January 9, рр. 9–11.  
Available at: https://www.cell.com./action/showPdf ?pii=S0092-8674%2808%2901636-X
Gluckman, P. D., Turekian, V., Grimes, R . W., & Kishi, T. (2017). Science diplomacy: a pragmatic perspective 
from the inside. Science & Diplomacy, vol. 6, no. 4 (December). Available at: http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/
article/2018/pragmatic-perspective
Leonard, M., Stead, C., & Smewing, C. (2002). Public diplomacy. London: The Foreign Policy Centre, рр. 22–137.
Materials of the conference (2021). Educational and scientific diplomacy in global dimention: Materials of the 
spring academic school Bukovel 2021. Available at: http://www.uaace.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/
Duplomatia.pdf
Myronchuk, O. (2019). The role of scientific diplomacy in the development and stabilization of international 
relations in the conditions of globalization. The evolution of values in the era of globalization: a collection of 
scientific works. Available at: https://elibrary.ivinas.gov.ua/4562/
Nye, Joseph S. Jr. (2011). The Future of Power, Public Affairs power. 
New frontiers in science diplomacy (2010). London: Royal Society and the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science, 2010. 32 р. Available at: http://royalsociety.org/policy/publications/2010/new-
frontiers-science-diplomacy
Pyschak, O. (2021). Educational diplomacy of heads of educational institutions as a tool of creative cooperation. 
Online: 2312-5829 Educological discourse, no. 3 (34). Available at: https://od.kubg.edu.ua/index.php/journal/
article/download/865/658
Rozumna, O., & Chernenko, T. (Ed.) (2016). Policy of cultural diplomacy: strategic priorities for Ukraine: 
collection of scientific materials. Kyiv: NISD, vol. 5, p. 92. 
Romanova, M. D. (2017). Scientific diplomacy: measurements and practices. Science. Innovation. Education,  
vol. 1(23), рp. 38–52. Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/nauchnaya-diplomatiya-izmereniya-i-praktiki 



Three Seas Economic Journal

72

Vol. 3 No. 3, 2022
Science diplomacy (2022). Available at: https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/science-diplomacy/41/science-
diplomacy_en 
Strategy of public diplomacy (2020). Strategy of public diplomacy by the Ministry of foreign affairs of Ukraine 
for [2021–2025]. Available at: https://mfa.gov.ua/storage/app/sites/1/Стратегії/public-diplomacy-strategy.pdf
Madrid Declaration on science diplomacy (2019). Available at: https://www.s4d4c.eu/s4d4c-1st-global-meeting/
the-madrid-declaration-on-science-diplomacy/
Turekian Vaughan, Neureiter Norman (2012). Science and diplomacy: the past as prologue. Science & Diplomacy, 
vol. 1, no. 1 (March 2012). Available at: http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/editorial/2012/science-and-diplomacy
Word and deed: analytical portal (2022). Available at: https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2022/04/14/novyna/
suspilstvo/mon-nazvaly-kilkist-povnistyu-zrujnovanyx-navchalnyx-zakladiv-ukrayini
Zewail Ahmed H. (2010). Science in diplomacy. Cell, vol. 141, issue 2, April 16, рр. 204–207. Available at:  
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867410003764

Received on: 22th of August, 2022 
Accepted on: 26th of September, 2022

Published on: 31th of October, 2022