Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Science at the Frontier of Progress‖ (June 8-10, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – Paris, France, 2026. - 178 p.

99 PEDAGOGYAND EDUCATION UDC 378.017:323.1(477) Nataliia Tonkonoh PhD in Pedagogics, associate professor Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav Pereiaslav, Ukraine FOR HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL CHALLENGES FORMATION OF UKRAINIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY Abstract. The article examines the peculiarities of the formation of Ukrainian national identity among higher education students in the context of modern social challenges. It highlights the factors, mechanisms, and educational practices for strengthening national consciousness and civic responsibility among young people. Keywords: ukrainian national identity, higher education students, national consciousness, civic responsibility, patriotic education, social challenges. Within the framework of the study of national identity, it is important, first of all, to clarify the essence of the concept itself, since its interpretation in scientific sources is characterized by ambiguity and diversity of approaches. In modern scientific works, national identity is considered as a complex integrative formation that combines individual and social characteristics of a person, reflects his belonging to a certain national community and determines a system of value orientations and behavioral models. As noted in the work of I. Goryachok, I. Barantsova and Yu. Taranenko, national identity is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that combines cognitive, emotional-value and behavioral characteristics of the individual. It includes not only knowledge about the history, culture, language and traditions of one's people, but also awareness of belonging to the nation, the formation of a sense of pride in it and the willingness to act in its interests. According to the authors, the structure of national identity includes a cognitive component (a system of knowledge about the state), emotional (a sense of belonging, patriotism) and behavioral (the implementation of nationally oriented activities), which ensures its integrity. At the same time, researchers emphasize that national identity performs important functions – value-orientation, integration and motivational, as it contributes to the formation of the individual's worldview and its active social position [1]. This definition allows us to consider national identity as a systemic formation that combines knowledge, emotions, and activity, ensuring the integrity of personal development. According to D. Piontkovskaya, the national identity of student youth is an integrative psychological formation that reflects the individual's awareness of his belonging to a certain nation, the acceptance of its values, norms and traditions, and is also manifested in the corresponding emotional attitude and behavioral activity. The researcher emphasizes that this phenomenon is formed in the process of socialization and educational activity and includes cognitive, emotional-value and behavioral components that ensure the individual’s holistic perception of himself as a representative of the national community [2]. In the scientific interpretation of K. Tereshchenko, national identity is considered as a component of a broader system of social identity of an individual, which is formed in the process of its interaction with the social environment and reflects the identification of an individual with a certain national community. The researcher emphasizes that national identity is manifested through the awareness of the commonality of historical fate, cultural heritage and social experience of the people, as well as through the adoption of appropriate social roles and norms of behavior. In this context, it acts as an important mechanism of socialization of the individual, ensuring its inclusion in the system of social relations and forming the basis for a civic position [3]. In the study of V. Zhelanova and O. Matvienko, national-cultural identity is interpreted as a complex integrative formation that is formed in the process of socialization of the individual and reflects its belonging to a certain cultural-national community. The authors focus on the structural organization of this phenomenon, highlighting interrelated components that provide not only awareness of one's own identity, but also the ability to preserve and broadcast it in the social environment [4].