The number of male students increased dramatically in higher education institutions against the backdrop of mobilization. Investigation
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In Ukrainian universities, the number of paid students has increased: this year, the number of new “contract students” increased by almost 40%, and if men are singled out, by 82%. Such growth may be related to attempts to avoid mobilization. Taking into account the average cost of a year of study (20.8 thousand hryvnias), the additional income of Ukrainian universities can be estimated at 1.7 billion hryvnias, according to the journalists of “Our Money. Lviv” publication in the investigation “How Ukrainian universities make money in war”. In universities, the number of male and female students under 20, the traditional age for entering universities, has decreased. On the other hand, the number of students aged 30-50 increased sharply. In particular, at least 85,000 men of draft age took advantage of the opportunity to enter into a contract in the 2022/2023 academic year. Infographic: Our money. Lviv, based on data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science of Ukraine However, not all students enroll in order to study: some contract students do not go to work, and universities do not receive financial benefit from the number of contract students. The reasons for the increase in the number of male students of conscription age are linked to the desire to avoid mobilization, because according to the law, students receive a deferment from mobilization during martial law. Also, the increase in the number of contractors was influenced by the fact that the conditions for admission in 2022 were simplified (for some specialties, an interview or a motivation letter was enough). Read also: Can students, graduate students and teachers be mobilized? Explanation According to the Ministry of Education and Culture, the number of male contract workers in the first year of study at Lviv Polytechnic National University increased by 187%. The increase of such students was recorded in the following universities: Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas (+406%); Lutsk National Technical University (+442%); National Forestry University of Ukraine (+606%); Lviv National University of Nature Management (+616%); Ukrainian Academy of Printing (+754%); Chernivtsi Trade and Economic Institute (+1134%). “For obvious reasons, the largest number of such “students” are recruited in the western regions, but statistics show a sharp increase in contract workers in all regions of the country, with the exception of Kherson Oblast, which was under occupation during last year’s admission campaign,” the journalists write. The administration of some universities believes that the reason is not the postponement of mobilization, but career guidance work. The MES also sees no problem in increasing the number of male students of conscription age. “I think the situation is somewhat simpler. If the military command comes to the conclusion that it needs [студентів], then changes will be made to the legislation and students will be mobilized. And if, let’s say, it is not so necessary now, then people will receive additional education and will be better prepared for various life situations, including mobilization,” said Oleg Sharov, general director of the Directorate of Professional Pre-Higher and Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture, in a comment to the NGL. Read also: The Verkhovna Rada exempted students and professors of professional education from mobilizing
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