This week, on March 29 and April 1, regular meetings of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Ukraine with the administrators of higher education institutions were held. They were attended by First Deputy Minister of Education and Science Andrii Vitrenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oleksiy Shkuratov, General Director of the Directorate of Professional Higher Education Oleh Sharov, representative of the Office of the President of Ukraine Svitlana Kretovych, representatives of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, the Department of State Financing and of national expenditures of the Ministry of Education and Culture, other authorised persons.
The main theses of the meeting:
🔹 It was once again emphasised the possibility of relying on the autonomy of higher education institutions in choosing the forms of organisation of the educational process, personnel issues, etc.
🔹 Regarding the direct implementation of the educational process, if it is impossible to establish a reliable connection, it is recommended to resort to the asynchronous mode of educational interaction. It is noted that, due to hard circumstances (such as being in a combat zone, displacing), some higher education institutions still have to use only asynchronous interaction.
🔹 Institutions that did not have time to submit documents for state certification of scientific institutions due to hostilities are able to do that until April 11 or during the autumn certification.
🔹 Theses defences may continue under martial law. Documents for the opening of Dissertation Committees for the doctors’ theses defence are accepted.
🔹 Reports on scientific activities for the previous year for higher education institutions that did not have time to submit them may be postponed.
🔹 Deadlines for submitting documents for participation in a number of joint projects with foreign countries have been delayed.
🔹 Funding of higher education institutions under protected expenditures will be transferred in April in the amount previously agreed.
🔹 There was a sequestration of budget funds provided for scientific research under separate programs.
🔹 The second stage of student scientific works competition will not be held this academic year. The same applies to the second stage of the academic competitions, which was reported earlier.
🔹 The information system "Science in universities" should resume work from Monday, April 4.