The article explores European experience in optimisation of higher education institutions network, provides theoretical background for the above process and identifies its key features, as well as formulates practical recommendations for implementation of Ukraine’s higher education sector optimisation. The relevance of this research is conditioned by ongoing higher education reform, its strategic objectives, developments triggered by russian federation aggression, and objectives of post-war revival of Ukraine. The article is rooted in the experience and optimisation practices of 9 European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom and identifies key specific features of higher education institutions network optimization in each of the above countries. The analysis of theoretical texts by foreign and domestic scholars, practical cases, analytical reports dedicated to university mergers and restructuring of the landscape of national higher education systems allowed to identify: terminology on the research topic (namely: amalgamations, mergers, concentration processes, clusters, alliances, collaborations, optimization of higher education institutions network); pre-conditions that trigger optimisation process (in the format of 5 pairs “reason — goal”); trends and approaches to optimisation implementation (8 trends including duration; diversification; dominance of vertical heterogenous amalgamations; pairing; positioning on higher education international arena; combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches; supporting role of the state; partnership and trust); factors that ensure success of optimisation efforts (presented in the form of three-level segmented pyramid with value, system and institutional dimensions). Practical recommendations formulated by the authors are the outcomes of adaptation of prominent European experience — its theoretical and practical domains — to the priorities, challenges and specific characteristics pertinent to the development of Ukraine’s higher educations.
The publication provides a comprehensive analysis of the state and development of national education over the 30 years of Ukraine’s independence, identifies current problems in education, ascertains the causes of their emergence, offers scientifically reasoned ways to modernise domestic education in the context of globalisation, European integration, innovative development, and national self-identification. Designed for legislators, state officials, education institutions leaders, teaching and academic staff, the general public, all those who seek to increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian education in the context of civilisation changes.
Видання підготовлено авторським колективом Відділу взаємодії університетів і суспільства Інституту вищої освіти НАПН України за результатами виконання першого етапу НДР «Політика та механізми реалізації соціальної відповідальності університетів України» (2021-2023 рр.). У публікації визначено теоретичні основи реалізації соціальної відповідальності університетів, окреслено ключові сфери соціальної відповідальності, схарактеризовано її виміри (когнітивний, екологічний, етичний, правовий, фінансовий, економічний, управлінський та ін.). Публікація буде корисною для здобувачів, викладачів, дослідників вищої освіти, інших осіб, зацікавлених у модернізації вищої освіти, посиленні соціальної ролі університетів, залученні громадянського суспільства до реалізації структурних реформ, глибинних структурних трансформацій.
The article is a follow-up analysis of Ukraine Higher Education Leadership Development Programme that ran in Ukraine 2016 – 2019 and was a joint initiative of the British Council in Ukraine, United Kingdom Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine and Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The article is rooted in insights, observations and reflections of Programme implementers and participants, as well as incorporates conclusions of the impact report put forward by an external evaluator of the Programme. The authors of the article conclude that university leadership is important for precipitating change at an individual, institutional and sectoral levels in Ukraine’s higher education sector and that currently available resources and existing capacity in university leadership development within the sector are sufficient to sustain and advance university leadership development. The authors argue that shared leadership approach has proved its effectiveness during the Programme; they propose to further apply shared leadership as a means of responding to numerous challenges faced today by Ukraine’s higher education sector. In addition to review of lessons learnt from three phases of Programme implementation, the authors generate recommendations for advancement of university leadership at institutional and sectoral levels within Ukraine’s higher education, like: unfolding discourse on university leadership at institutional and sub-institutional, sectoral and national levels; mainstreaming university leadership into all HEI activities, including teaching and learning, research, governance and management, student self-government, international cooperation etc.; facilitating inter-university cooperation, knowledge exchange and sharing; involving students into university leadership discourse and practice; launching a campaign to promote establishment of a privately funded foundation or endowment on university leadership development.
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