Rector of the Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University Olha Porkuian took part in a strategic meeting of heads of higher education institutions initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The event was held at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University.
The meeting was devoted to important strategic directions: the development of pedagogical and higher education in the post-war period of Ukraine. The event was attended by Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet, MPs, representatives of the educational community of Ukraine’s regions and international organizations.
One of the issues discussed was teacher education and the prospects for its development. It was about the model of a school graduate expected by higher education institutions who is able to master knowledge-intensive and innovative higher education programs and, accordingly, the model of a modern educator who is able to form such a graduate.
“We need to develop all the components, because education is the only system that can be perfect only through a comprehensive approach. The ideology of education of teachers and tutors must be in line with the development of the modern world and have the necessary tools for the next 20 years. Despite the martial law in Ukraine, we continue to work on shaping an educated future. The elite must be formed by the elite!” noted Serhii Shkarlet.
The discussion also focused on postgraduate teacher education. “For me personally, it was interesting to get acquainted with the European experience of micro-qualifications, which are essentially one of the forms of adult education,” said Olha Porkuian. According to her, the meeting was devoted to issues common to the entire higher education sector:
- the responsibility of rectors for the activities of universities
- the importance of Supervisory Boards
- international and scientific cooperation
- digital transformation of the education sector, etc.
Vasyl Kremen, President of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, expressed his opinion on the need to optimize the network of higher education institutions by consolidating universities. Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science responsible for the areas under discussion were invited to participate in the discussion. “I believe that such an organization of the event is the most constructive and effective,” Olha Porkuian summarized.
Based on the results of the strategic meeting, tasks and ways to implement them were formulated in cooperation with the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, the National Qualifications Agency, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders.