Education System

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Education in Ukraine has a structure of the European type and includes preschool education, general secondary education, extracurricular education, vocational education, higher education, postgraduate education, postgraduate studies, doctoral studies, self-education.

In addition, the following educational levels have been established: primary general education, basic general secondary education, complete general secondary education, vocational and technical education, incomplete higher education, basic higher education, complete higher education.

According to the Law of Ukraine “On Education”, citizens of Ukraine have the right to receive education in various forms: full-time (full-time), evening, part-time or external. With the development of information technology, distance education is successfully developing and improving.

The structure of higher education in Ukraine is built in accordance with the structure of education in developed countries, which is defined by UNESCO, the UN and other international organizations.

1. SECONDARY EDUCATION

ELEMENTARY SECONDARY EDUCATION

In Ukraine, elementary schooling takes four years. Children acquire an elementary education in general educational institutions of the 1st accreditation level that operate independently or as part of general educational institutions of the 1st-2nd and 1st-3rd accreditation levels. The content, forms, procedure, and schedule of such annual examinations are determined on an annual basis and approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

BASIC SECONDARY EDUCATION

Schooling in the basic school takes 5 years. The right to provide a basic general secondary education is granted to general educational institutions of the 2nd accreditation level. A certificate of a basic general secondary education entitles its holder to enrollment in a 3rd accreditation level school, vocational-technical educational institution, or institution of higher learning of the I-II accreditation levels.

COMPLETE SECONDARY EDUCATION

The senior school is the final stage in acquiring a complete general secondary education. The schooling in the senior school takes 2 years. A complete secondary education may be acquired in general and specialized secondary schools, boarding schools, lyceums, gymnasiums, colleges, and other institutions of general secondary education of the ІІІ grade. Pupils who have finished the 11th year of study and passed the final state examinations receive a certificate of complete general secondary education and supplement to it specifying the scores earned for educational achievements.

2. INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT TEST

Secondary school graduates are required to pass the independent external knowledge assessment test in the subjects required for the enrollment in a chosen institution of higher learning. This higher educational institution may change the list of such subjects following its enrollment requirements. School graduates with a complete general secondary education have the right to apply for enrollment in any institution of higher learning.

INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT TEST is provided by Ukrainian Center of Independent External Knowledge Assessment in cooperation with local education authorities, regional institutes of postgraduate pedagogical education , and educational institutions. A person who has completed or will have completed general secondary education in the current academic year and has registered in accordance with the established requirements may take part in the external knowledge assessment test. To register for the session, candidate needs to correctly choose the category, create and fill out a registration card, the form of which is formed using a special service “Register”, posted on the website of the Center of Independent External Knowledge Assessment. Candidate needs to submit it to the person responsible for registration in the educational institution (for school graduates, students of vocational schools and colleges who are completing general secondary education this year) or send it to the relevant regional center for assessment of education (for graduates of previous years).

THE SET OF REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS MUST INCLUDE:

issued registration card, the form of which is formed using a special service “Register”;
application for participation in an additional session;
a certified copy of the passport of a citizen of Ukraine;
a certified copy of the document on complete general secondary education (for graduates of previous years) .
if necessary, other documents ( medical conclusion about creating special conditions to undergo testing , a copy of the change of name / surname , copy of notarized translation into Ukrainian documents , submitted for registration in a foreign language ).

RESULTS. The result of the Independent External Knowledge Assessment is shown in the standard-issue certificate, which provides information about the scores obtained for chosen subjects. Results are credited as admission tests to a higher education institution. The average score of the certificate of Secondary Education is also taken into account during the admission to the university.

3. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Vocational education is a system of training qualified workers. Vocational education is a component of the educational system of Ukraine. It is a complex of teaching and organizational arrangements aimed at helping people to acquire knowledge, abilities, and skills in their chosen vocational areas. The academic year in vocational educational institutions may not exceed 40 academic weeks. During the term of study, students are required to pass current, subject-oriented, intermediate, and exit knowledge quality control. The exit knowledge quality control takes place at the end of the study cycle and envisages qualification examinations.

Vocational education has different stages. Such stages are reflected in respective qualification levels, specialization complexity levels, and educational levels. Each stage of study in a vocational educational institution has its theoretical and practical completion and confirmed by awarding the graduates (students) the qualification degrees of Qualified Worker and Junior Specialist in accordance with their acquired professional knowledge, abilities, and skills.

A graduate of a vocational educational institution who successfully passes the qualification examinations is awarded the qualification degree of Qualified Worker of the appropriate category in the selected specialization field.

A graduate who completed a course of study in an accredited higher vocational school or vocational center of a specific accreditation level may be awarded the qualification degree of Junior Specialist.

4. HIGHER EDUCATION

The legislation of Ukraine on the higher education is based on the Constitution of Ukraine and consists of the laws of Ukraine “On education”, “On scientific and scientific and technical activities”, “On higher education” and other regulatory legal acts, international treaties of Ukraine signed in the procedure established by the law. Training of specialists with the higher education is performed according to the appropriate educational or scientific programs at such levels of the higher education:

initial level (short cycle) of the higher education;
first (baccalaureate) level;
second (master) level;
third (educational and research/educational and creative) level;
scientific level.

Receipt of the higher education at each level of the higher education provides successful accomplishment by person of the appropriate educational or scientific program, is the basis for award of the corresponding degree of the higher education:

JUNIOR BACHELOR – is an educational and professional degree, which is obtained at the elementary level of higher education and is awarded by educational institution upon successful completion of educational and professional program. The corresponding workload is 90-120 ECTS credits. The standard schooling time under the junior specialist’s program on the basis of a complete general secondary education is 2–3 years, and on the basis of a basic general secondary education while at the same time obtaining a complete general secondary education it is 3–4 years. Graduates who successfully pass state examinations receive a junior specialist’s diploma that gives them the right to engage in professional activities and apply for enrollment in the bachelor’s degree program..
BACHELOR – is an educational degree that is acquired at the first level of higher education on the basis of complete general secondary education. It is awarded by the Higher Educational Institution upon successful completion of educational and professional program. The workload is 180-240 ECTS credits (3-4 years generally, 1 year – 60 ECTS credits). The workload required for the award of a Bachelor degree to a student who is continuing studies after having been conferred a relevant Junior Bachelor degree shall be defined by the HEI. Graduates who successfully pass state examinations receive a bachelor’s diploma that gives them the right to engage in professional activities and apply for enrollment in a specialist’s or master’s degree program.
MASTER – is an educational degree that is acquired at the second level of higher education, and is awarded by HEI upon successful completion of a relevant academic or professionally oriented program. A professionally oriented Master program comprises 90-120 ECTS credits; a research program comprises 120 ECTS credits. Admission to the Master program is provided on the basis of Bachelor degree. Graduates need to pass state examinations, which includes public defense of their master’s thesis. Those who successfully pass state examinations receive a master’s diploma that gives them the right to engage in professional activities and apply for enrollment in the post-graduate department.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) – is educational and the first research degree, acquired at the third level of higher education on the basis of Master degree. PhD degree in awarded by the Specialized Academic Board of HEI or research establishment upon successful completion of the relevant educational and research program and public thesis presentation (30-60 ECTS credits).
DOCTOR OF ART – is educational and research/educational and creative degree, acquired at the third level of higher education on the basis of Master degree (30-60 ECTS credits).
DOCTOR OF SCIENCE – is a research degree, which is acquired at the second research level of higher education on the basis of Doctor of Philosophy degree and stipulates acquisition of the highest competences in the field of elaboration and implementation of research work methodology, conduction of innovative research, receipt of scientific results, which provide solution of significant theoretical or applied issues, have national or global importance and are published in scientific editions. Doctor of Science degree is awarded by the specialized Attestation board of the HEI or research establishment. It considers results of public presentation of research achievements by means of a thesis, published monograph or by the collection of articles, published at the national and international refereed professional editions, list of which is approved by the central executive body in the sector of education and science.

5. ACCREDITATION AND LICENSING

The national quality assurance system is implemented through licensing and accreditation mechanisms.

Institutions of higher learning in Ukraine provide educational services on the basis of licenses. A license prerequisite is compliance with the standards set by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

An institution of higher learning has the right to issue a state standard document confirming higher education only for the specialization field for which it has been accredited. A given specialization field is accredited to this educational institution if the level of training it provides in this specialization meets the state requirements.

The bodies authorized to control the quality of higher education in Ukraine are the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, State Accreditation Commission, State Inspectorate for Educational Institutions, and Higher Attestation Commission.

The licensed institutions of higher learning are entered into the state register of higher educational establishments.

6. POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION

Postgraduate education is a component of the educational system of Ukraine. In Ukrainian law, postgraduate education is defined as specialized improvement of education and training of a person by deepening, expanding and updating his professional knowledge, skills and abilities or obtaining another specialty on the basis of previously acquired higher or vocational education and practical experience.

POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION INCLUDES:

specialization – specialized training for the ability to perform certain tasks and responsibilities that have features within the specialty;

retraining – professional training aimed at mastering another profession by employees who have received initial professional training;

advanced training (expansion of the profile) – acquisition of abilities to perform additional tasks and responsibilities within the specialty;

internship – gaining experience in performing tasks and responsibilities of a certain professional activity or field of knowledge.

A person who has successfully completed the postgraduate education program receives a document, a sample of which is approved by the founder of the educational institution or its authorized body. Postgraduate education is obtained in academies, institutes of postgraduate education, vocational and technical educational institutions, relevant structural units of higher educational institutions, scientific, educational and scientific institutions in the manner approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

FORMS OF POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION:

professional training of workers in working professions;

assistantship-internship;

internship;

medical residency;

clinical residency, etc.

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