TO THE ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPTS OF «MULTICULTURALISM», «MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION» AND «MULTICULTURAL COMPETENCE» IN THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE

Introduction. The paradigm of modern world existence and development focuses on a person with his/her spiritual and material values, which is aware of his ethno-cultural identity and has a respectful attitude towards representatives of other cultures. The integration processes taking place in today's multicultural space encourage the reform of the education system and require the training of competent specialists. The modern educational paradigm requires the education of a harmoniously developed, spiritually rich personality, who can navigate well in today's multicultural world. Nowadays, multicultural education and upbringing of youth, which are oriented towards the education of a comprehensively developed personality identifying himself/herself as a representative of a certain ethnic group,can respect people of other nationalities, cultures, traditions, faith, customs, etc., are becoming very important. Therefore, the formation of multicultural competency in the young generation is one of the priority tasks of a modern pedagogical science and related disciplines. Purpose. The article aims to present the main research related to the issue of multiculturalism, multicultural education and multicultural competency. Methods. The following theoretical and cognitive methods were used for studying the issue of multiculturalism, multicultural education, and multicultural competence as the method of analysis, synthesis and comparative method. Results. In numerous scientific works, scientists investigate the issue of multicultural competency based on key concepts that are fundamental for determining the main differences or similar characteristics, but there is no unified approach or a clear agreement on the use of terminology. Researchers offer different views on the problem of interaction between representatives of different cultures. This has led to the use of a large number of terms that are cognate but used with different definitions, components and aspects of research, including «multicultural», «multicultural», «multicultural» and «intercultural».Originality. One of the important matters is the issue of studying and harmonizing the terminological apparatus for the problem of ensuring the effective interaction of representatives of different cultures at different levels to define, study in more detail and solve the problems that arise during the formation of multicultural appropriate competency.Conclusion. Therefore, the issue of multiculturalism, multicultural education and multicultural competency is at the centre of the educational process today in our country and abroad. It is sufficiently developed in foreign science and insufficiently researched in Ukrainian science. In the conceptual triad «multiculturalism», «multicultural education» and «multicultural competency», all three components are interconnected and interdependent. In the educational process, it is implemented as follows: multiculturalism of the modern world requires education to be multicultural and to direct its efforts to the formation of students' multicultural competency, which will help them successfully navigate the modern multicultural world space. That is why our task is to study this topical issue in detail and find optimal ways and methods of the formation and development of multicultural competency of the participants of the educational process.