Following a meeting with the heads of leading higher education institutions, which took place on June 2, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the establishment of the Council for the Development of Higher Education in Ukraine.
"Its tasks will include improving the quality and content of higher education in Ukraine, preparing proposals for improving legislation in this area, in particular on the financial autonomy of higher education institutions, the mechanism for attracting private investment and development of public-private partnership," the President said.
According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers must develop and approve a strategy for the development of higher education for 2021-2031 by November 1, 2020.
"We must form clear goals and train competitive professionals in accordance with the needs of the Ukrainian economy. We must determine which professions in the market are superfluous, and which will be in great demand in the future,” the President said.
Also, by December 1 this year, the Cabinet of Ministers must approve a state program for the restoration and development of a network of dormitories for students.
"Student dormitories should be modern, comfortable, and most importantly - in sufficient numbers for the needs of non-resident students," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
In addition, the government and the Institute for Strategic Studies together with the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine must develop and approve a state program for the development of research infrastructure in Ukraine and an action plan to promote physical sciences and mathematics by September 1, 2020.
"Ukraine is a land of inventors and pioneers recognized by the whole world. We must have new Sikorsky, Korolev and Vernadsky. For this end, we need to develop research activities in universities, build research infrastructure, including industry laboratories. A country that offers a scientist only a chair, a sheet of paper and a pen cannot be successful. This needs to change," the President is convinced.
Also, by September 1, the government must develop an action plan to promote opportunities for higher education in Ukraine for foreign students.
"This will provide important revenues for the economy and help establish strong interstate ties," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
According to the decree, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine must submit a draft regulation on the Council for the Development of Higher Education in Ukraine and proposals on its composition within two weeks.
"I want to emphasize that we are not focused only on higher education. In the near future, we will hold meetings with representatives of preschool, secondary and vocational education, and together find ways to develop and improve these levels,” the President stressed.