INTERCULTURAL DIMENSION IN THE PROCESS OF EDUCATION IN RELATION TO STRENGTHENING OF REGIONAL SECURITY

Developing of the international dimension of education assumes future development of every society. This paper analyzes the current development of the international component of higher education in the Republic of Croatia (University of Osijek) and methodological approach using a comparative analysis of the situation at MIT University in Skopje. This paper analyzes the intercultural dimension in the process of education, in relation to the strengthening of regional security, by using the questionnaire. The survey includes questions related to the importance of conducting classes in a foreign language in relation to attracting of foreign students and teachers, as well as the issues such as the active involvement of all stakeholders (students, teachers, administrative staff) in the process of internationalization of higher education institutions. The paper, as well as the research, is based on the following hypothesis "strengthening the internationalization of higher education, along with the active involvement of all stakeholders in the process contributes to the reduction of conflict, thus strengthening regional security. It can be seen through indicators of the degree of acceptance of cultural diversity and reached levels of strengthening of individual capabilities of students, teachers and administrative staff in the perception of the real sources of threat to security through the perception of the level of intercultural education impact on regional security.” The methodological approach and analysis of the survey results represent a comparative analysis of the degree of social distance in relation to the acceptance of foreign students through the lowest and the highest level of social relations (Bogardus scale), where we assessed the degree of social distance among students on the basis of cultural barriers. The second crossing data in the study is to determine the degree of perception of threat to regional security on the basis of the scale and consent given by the respondents (10 levels of consent).