On April 14, 2022, on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the order No. 286-r of February 23, 2022 “On the approval of the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Ukraine for 2022-2032” was published.
This document, focused on the period of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, is extremely relevant and important. The goals and objectives of the Strategy are a detailed road map for rebuilding and continuing the reform of the higher education system in the post-war period. Completion of the tasks defined by the Strategy will reduce the destructive consequences caused by the full-scale invasion of the russian federation on the territory of independent Ukraine.
Based on the analysis of the development dynamics of higher education in Ukraine, taking into account the opinion of experts of working subgroups on the development of the Strategy and considering the global trends in the higher education development, the strengths and weaknesses of the national higher education system, opportunities for further development and threats from the external environment are determined. On the basis of the SWOT analysis, scenarios for the development of higher education in Ukraine (pessimistic, realistic and optimistic) were developed.
The document provides for the implementation of 5 strategic goals:
1. Effectiveness of management in the higher education system. The following tasks are expected to be performed:
- increasing budget funding and improving the distribution formula based on activity results;
- expansion of budget lending for higher education and adult education;
- modernization of the network, consolidation of higher education institutions, support of research universities.
2. Trust of citizens, the state, and business in the educational, scientific, and innovative activities of higher education institutions. To achieve the goal, the following is provided:
- expansion of the scope of application of external independent evaluation (ZNO), targeted placement and competition;
- assistance in conducting research and consulting for business by higher education institutions;
- creation of conditions for the development of public-private partnership in the field of higher education;
- introduction of effective mechanisms for detecting violations of academic integrity and procedures for bringing to academic responsibility.
3. Ensuring high-quality educational and scientific activity, competitive higher education, which is accessible to various population groups. In order to achieve the strategic goal and the corresponding operational goals, the following tasks are foreseen:
- support of national and international academic mobility of students, as well as referral to study at foreign universities;
- provision of special support to residents of temporarily occupied territories, unprotected and vulnerable population groups;
- creation of special conditions for entrants with outstanding achievements;
- promotion of the innovative technologies use and the latest teaching means in the educational process, development of research infrastructures.
4. Internationalization of higher education of Ukraine. It is intended to provide:
- harmonization of the higher education structure in accordance with the obligations of the member states of the European Higher Education Area;
- development of the national qualifications system;
- simplification of procedures for foreign educational qualifications recognition;
- transformation of education in the security and defence sector in accordance with the doctrinal approaches and principles of NATO.
5. Attractiveness of higher education institutions for study and academic career. To achieve this, the following tasks must be performed:
- adherence to approaches to student-centred learning in the organization of the educational process;
- expansion of cross-entry, joint, interdisciplinary and dual programs, dual and other forms of education;
- development of general competences, legal culture, motor activity, sports and student competitions;
- development of management training programs for management staff and promising leaders of higher education institutions (staff reserve), trainings to support reforms;
- conducting communication campaigns to support reforms in the higher education system, etc.
“Despite the difficult situation in Ukraine, our main task is to continue the educational process. It is also important to reform the education system in accordance with new challenges. It is this strategic document that defines the main priorities of the higher education system at the current stage of development of society and the country’s economy, as well as the main characteristics that will be formed by 2032. The strategy was adopted on February 23, a day before the full-scale war launched by russia against Ukraine. Taking into account the current situation, tasks and implementation measures will require adjustment, however, the strategic goals and key tasks remain unchanged,” – said Minister of Education and Science Serhii Shkarlet.
The expected result of the Strategy implementation is the creation of a modern and effective higher education system that meets the needs of citizens, the economy and society, has a decent reputation and is competitive on the domestic as well as global market of educational services.
The objectives and indicators for each operational objective, as well as the expected results, are listed in the extended strategic pyramid. In addition, the order of the CMU approved the operational plan for the implementation in 2022-2024 of the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Ukraine for 2022-2032.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment published clarifications on the content, structure and evaluation of blocks of the national multi-subject test in the Ukrainian language, mathematics and history of Ukraine.
