The MES plans to reduce the number of higher education institutions in Ukraine, there is already a draft law: what does it provide

The MES plans to reduce the number of higher education institutions in Ukraine, there is already a draft law: what does it provide

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Over the past 15 years, the average number of students in one institution of higher education has almost halved.

Considering this, the Ministry of Education and Science believes that the number of higher education institutions should be optimized. Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykhailo Vynnytskyi announced this on the air of Radio Kultura on November 21.

According to him, the existing system of higher education is “bloated”, as it has more than 170 state universities, some of which have territorially separated structural units.

A bachelor’s degree can also be earned at some colleges.

“There is still a postgraduate course opened in the institutes of the Academy of Sciences, which are also considered separate educational institutions. This is a rather “inflated” system. And these are only state institutions, there are 85 more private ones next to them”– said Vinnytskyi.

According to him, the need to optimize the network of institutions is also dictated by the demographic situation in the country, as the trend of the number of students in universities is decreasing.

He added that the European Commission, which monitors Ukraine’s compliance with the requirements for joining the European Union, recommends reducing the number of higher education institutions in Ukraine.

“Our demography cannot support such a number of educational institutions. 15 years ago, the average number of students per institution was 6.5 thousand, today it is 3.5 thousand. And this trend continues.

The European Commission proposes to develop an action plan for this. The answer of the Ministry of Education is yes the draft law “On modernization of the network of higher education institutions” has already been developed“, said the deputy head of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

According to the document, in Ukraine, in particular, institutions of professional pre-higher education (colleges) should be distinguished from institutions of higher education, says Vynnytskyi.

From yes, territorially separated structural subdivisions should either be attached to other educational institutions, or become independent institutions of higher education.

“In Europe, there is no concept of a territorially separated structural division or branch, it is difficult to imagine that, for example, there is a branch of the University of Munich in Hamburg, and in Marseille there is a branch of the University of Paris. We need to separate them.”– said Vinnytskyi.

He added that by the end of 2023, Ukraine will have at least 6 united institutions in different regions.

We previously reported that in 2023, the proportion of men among first-year paid students increased to 70%, and their average age increased to 27 years.

Read also: The Verkhovna Rada committee answered whether they plan to ban men of draft age from entering universities

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