The culture of moral development of students and teachers of higher education as a pedagogical problem

This article explores the role of cultural and moral phenomena in the spiritual renewal of contemporary Russian society and argues that genuine spiritual renewal of society is possible only through the constant perception, rethinking, and development of moral foundations within the cultural environment, where morality becomes an integral part of the cultural process, and culture becomes a space for expressing moral ideals and implementing them in social practice. It substantiates the importance of the culture of moral development of the individual for the spiritual renewal of society and addresses the issue of the culture of moral development of students and teachers in higher education within the context of contemporary scientific pedagogical discourse. It proposes an interpretation of the culture of moral development of students and teachers in higher education as a complex, multifaceted process of developing an individual's moral experience, expressed in the purposeful, systematic, and consistent improvement of the individual as a subject of public morality and individual morality. It is argued that the culture of moral development is integrated into the educational process at the university, defining the content of moral education. It is argued that, despite the distinctive characteristics of the culture of moral development of students and teachers, such culture appears as a holistic pedagogical phenomenon. The features of the culture of moral development are revealed in the context of student and teacher activities. It is demonstrated that the concepts of «culture of moral development of the individual» and «moral culture of the individual» are interrelated but not identical. The article substantiates the need to coordinate scientific research and integrate the efforts of the scientific community in developing common methodological and practical solutions to the problem of the culture of moral development of students and university teachers by creating a Scientific Council for the Culture of Moral Development of Students and Teachers of Higher Education at the Department of Education and Culture of the Russian Academy of Education. The functions of the Scientific Council are identified: scientific and methodological, coordinating, diagnostic and evaluative, advisory and expert, and educational and organizational functions. Areas of activity for the Scientific Council are proposed.