Yulia Svyrydenko meets with heads of three Ukrainian universities implementing higher education governance reform
On the eve of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed today, 11 February, Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko met with the rectors of three Ukrainian universities that are implementing the reform of higher education institution governance: Kseniia Semenova of the Kyiv Aviation Institute, Halyna Shylo of Zaporizhzhia National University, and Valentyna Yakubiv of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University.
“These universities are participants in the experimental project to develop the autonomy of higher education institutions, which began in 2024. Its essence lies in establishing supervisory boards with real management powers and selecting leaders through open competitions. This approach to governance, combined with women’s leadership, opens new horizons for the development of education and science and enables systemic change from within even during wartime. I admire these women leaders who are driving meaningful change at the local level and thank them for their work,” the Prime Minister noted.
Yulia Svyrydenko stressed that the Government aims to transform the culture of governance in higher education institutions. Plans include expanding financial autonomy, improving property management mechanisms, and enabling the voluntary transition of universities to a corporate governance model.
“We are creating conditions under which students will choose to study in Ukraine and see their future here at home after graduation,” the Prime Minister said. “For the first time in thirty years, the state has conducted a unified attestation of research institutions and universities to review funding. Now, funding will go to those who genuinely work and deliver results. This year we have allocated more than UAH 3 billion for their additional formula-based funding – resources for raising salaries, purchasing equipment, and developing laboratories.”
In addition, this year’s state budget provides nearly UAH 1 billion for the establishment of centres of excellence in research at higher education institutions, around UAH 500 million to support young scientists’ research, and the first UAH 100 million for additional support to projects at frontline universities.
Attention is also focused on the Science.City legal regime, which helps develop a system of science parks through cooperation between universities, science, business, and the state. Over the past year, 9 new science parks have been created. They are already collaborating with science parks in the United Kingdom and Denmark.
“We also discussed with the rectors the technical capabilities of universities to continue operating even amid the difficult energy situation. The Government, together with regional military administrations, will assist in equipping higher education institutions with cogeneration units so that learning can proceed without interruption,” Yulia Svyrydenko reported.
