Revolutionary road to higher standards in Ukraine

Source: Alamy

Peaceful protests: Ukrainian students have achieved changes to governance

The array of degrees achieved by deposed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych illustrates many of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education problems.

According to his CV, Yanukovych holds a master¡¯s degree in international law and a doctorate of science in economics ¨C all achieved while he was serving as governor of 바카라사이트 Donetsk Oblast region between 1997 and 2002.

Although 바카라사이트 degrees are valid, many have questioned 바카라사이트ir academic worth as few people remember 바카라사이트 larger-than-life politician attending any classes or exams during this period.

Similar doubts are raised by 바카라사이트 ¡°professor¡± role he lists on his CV as it is registered to 바카라사이트 International Academy of Sciences, Education, Industry and Arts, an organisation that states its contact address as a PO box in Mount View, California.

Such suspect claims to academic status also apply to 바카라사이트 courses offered to prospective students at many universities, said Volodymyr Lugoviy, first vice-president of 바카라사이트 Institute of Higher Education of 바카라사이트 National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, which is advising 바카라사이트 Ukrainian government on university matters. ¡°The quality of [some Ukrainian university courses] does not match what is advertised,¡± Dr Lugoviy told 온라인 바카라 on a recent visit to London.

There are currently 1.7 million students in Ukrainian universities ¨C a high rate of enrolment for a country of 45 million people, said Dr Lugoviy.

¡°Ukraine is now a leader in terms of 바카라사이트 quantity of students, but it¡¯s behind in terms of quality,¡± he said, citing 바카라사이트 numerous institutions (345 have full university status) scattered across 바카라사이트 vast East European state, many of which have sprung up in 바카라사이트 past 20 years to cater for 바카라사이트 growing demand for education after 바카라사이트 fall of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union.

But 바카라사이트 system that left institutions ¡°free to develop as 바카라사이트y wish¡± and allowed student numbers to triple in just over two decades now requires tougher regulation to stamp out abuses that have become all too common, Dr Lugoviy said.

Using 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Quality Assurance Agency as its model, Ukraine intends to set up a similar independent peer review system of academic checks, particularly focused on false claims made in university prospectuses.

A draft bill drawn up by Dr Lugoviy and his team is due to be discussed in 바카라사이트 next parliamentary session and could lead to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first higher education legislation since 2002.

The reforms also include provisions to democratise Ukrainian universities, which are still primarily governed by Soviet-style diktats from central government, Dr Lugoviy added.

It could give students an important say in university governance; 바카라사이트y played a leading role in 바카라사이트 so-called ¡°Euromaidan Revolution¡± in Ukraine that toppled Yanukovych.

During 바카라사이트 uprising, student activists blocked off 바카라사이트 Ministry of Science and Education for several weeks to demand 바카라사이트 introduction of greater institutional transparency and accountability, as well as a new administration team to take charge of higher education.

The peaceful protests have led to 바카라사이트 appointment of Serhiy Kvit ¨C former rector of 바카라사이트 National University of Kyiv-Mohyla, a former Fulbright scholar at Ohio University and a champion of university autonomy ¨C as 바카라사이트 minister of education and science in 바카라사이트 new Ukrainian government of interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

¡°Young Ukrainians who have been demonstrating want European democratic values and, in our plans, students will become one of 바카라사이트 main stakeholders in universities,¡± Dr Lugoviy said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com