Round table “Strategy for the development of higher education in Ukraine in the context of emergencies and martial law crises. Building a network of higher education institutions in Ukraine” (23.09.2024, online/offline)
On 23 September 2024, the round table “Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Ukraine in the Context of Emergencies and Martial Law Crises. Building a Network of Higher Education Institutions in Ukraine” was held. This event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, the National Team of Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) of the EU Erasmus+ Programme, the Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences (NAES) of Ukraine, the Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Ukraine, with the participation of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
The purpose of the event was to analyze and summarise the current results of implementing the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Ukraine during emergencies and martial law crises. It also aimed to identify the legislative preconditions and key concepts for the development of higher education, including the modernization of the higher education institutions (HEIs) network in the context of European integration.
The round table took place in a hybrid format, with 32 participants gathering in the conference hall of the Institute of Higher Education of NAES of Ukraine and the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine. Among them were representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine – Deputy Minister Mychailo WYNNYCKYJ, Director General of the Directorate of Higher Education and Professional Pre-Higher Education Oleg SHAROV, and State Expert Maryna MRUHA – as well as representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications – Tetiana KOLOS, from the Department of Arts, and Olga ROSSOSHANSKA, Acting Head of the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education. Around 100 participants joined the event online via the ZOOM platform.
The event was opened by Vasyl KREMEN, President of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, who presented the findings of the NAES research “The Network of State Higher Education Institutions in Ukraine: Efficiency and Competitiveness Analysis”. He highlighted the critical need to modernize the HEI network, emphasizing the negative impact of resource dispersion on the quality of higher education. Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, briefed participants on the Erasmus+ Programme’s projects and calls for 2024.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Mychailo WYNNYCKYJ, National HERE expert, outlined the main aspects of current higher education policies, the implementation of the Strategy for Higher Education Development in Ukraine under emergency conditions, and key educational reform concepts impacting the modernization of the HEI network.
National HERE experts – Oleg SHAROV, Volodymyr LUGOVYI, Yuriy RASHKEVYCH, Olena KOZIEVSKA, and Volodymyr BAKHRUSHYN – delivered presentations on pressing issues related to the development of higher education in Ukraine during emergencies and crises and the network-building of HEIs.
Yuriy VITRENKO, Leading Researcher at the Department of Social and Institutional Transformations in Higher Education at the Institute of Higher Education of NAES of Ukraine and a Merited Economist of Ukraine, shared his expert perspective on implementing the Higher Education Development Strategy using quantitative indicators.
Andrii GOZHYK, Vice-Rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, presented the university’s experience in institutional development, considering the strategic goals and objectives of higher education development in Ukraine under emergency conditions.
Demographic challenges and their impact on the development of higher education in Ukraine under martial law and during post-war recovery were highlighted by Dmytro SHUSHPANOV, Head of the Department of Demographic Modeling and Forecasting at the Institute for Demography and Social Studies of NAS of Ukraine.
As a result of the round table, participants gained knowledge and insights into the strategic goals and objectives of higher education development in Ukraine, mechanisms for their implementation, and evaluation criteria under emergency conditions and martial law crises. They also explored institutional development planning in line with the strategic goals of higher education development in the context of European integration. Participants received electronic certificates from the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine.
Speaker Presentations:
- Mychailo WYNNYCKYJ: “Strategic Priorities in Higher Education Reform for 2024–25” – Download;
- Oleg SHAROV: “Higher Education Development Strategy of Ukraine 2022–2032: Draft Operational Plan for 2025–2028” – Download;
- Yuriy VITRENKO: “Higher Education in the Context of Ukraine’s Recovery from the Consequences of War: What Should the Strategy Be?” – Download;
- Volodymyr LUGOVYI: “The Network of Higher Education Institutions in Ukraine: Current State and Prospects” – Download;
- Dmytro SHUSHPANOV: “Demographic Challenges and Higher Education Development in Ukraine under Martial Law and During Post-War Recovery” – Download;
- Andrii GOZHYK: “Institutional Development Considering Strategic Goals of Higher Education Development in Ukraine: The Experience of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv” – Download;
- Yuriy RASHKEVYCH: “Ensuring Higher Education Content Alignment with Labour Market Needs During Martial Law and Post-War Recovery” – Download;
- Volodymyr BAKHRUSHYN: “Legislative Changes in the Context of the Higher Education Development Strategy and the Tirana Communiqué” – Download;
- Olena KOZIEVSKA: “Contemporary Education Legislation: Current Changes in the Context of Higher Education Development Strategy” – Download.