The expansion of university autonomy is the subject of lively discussion in Ukraine, both on expert and lay levels. What positive shifts and likely threats can this reform trigger? Do we really need “decentralization” of academia? These questions, as well as the American know-how of developing independent and competitive universities, were the subject of our conversation with Oleksandr MOTSYK, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States of America and member of the Supervisory Board of the Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University.
“FOR US AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN KNOW-HOW IS IMPORTANT”
Does school education in the US know anything comparable to our external independent testing?
“Yes, in the US there too is external evaluation, and it is crucial. America has a 12-year secondary education. There is the Elementary School, Middle School, and High School, and external testing takes place, if I am not mistaken, in grades 9, 10, and 11. In grade 12 students can choose concrete subjects to better prepare for the colleges of their choice.
“Choosing a college in the US is a headache for the entire family, and they know their destination 12 to 18 months ahead, they know how much the tuition will cost, where they can get funds, what loans they should take if they cannot afford the college, and so on. Of course, there are big preferences for bright students. If the tuition amounts to 26,000 dollars per year, not every family can afford such a college. But if the student is really capable and has demonstrated special progress on Pan-American level, they can enroll for free or for a symbolic fee as prodigy.”
Higher education in Ukraine is undergoing a crucial and complex transformation process, which should evidently result in a considerable expansion of our universities’ autonomy. Whose know-how would you recommend as particularly suitable?
“University autonomy plus substantial resources plus external testing: these are the three crucial ingredients which give young people an opportunity to become a truly successful student, and later, a successful graduate who is of benefit for his country and society. It is important not only to follow the path of scientific and technological progress, but also to lead it. American universities are very wealthy. The budget of the University of Massachusetts, for instance, is around three billion dollars, Harvard, as far as I remember, around 2.7 billion, Boston 2.3 billion. Such powerful resources enable them to invite the best students and teachers, providing them with state of the art technical and technological facilities. It is only natural that in such environment intelligent people, who work with cutting edge technology, provide top results.
“That is why I think that both American and European know-how is important for us. We need to combine it and make sure that is fits our goals.”
“IT IS CRUCIAL TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SCIENCE PARK”
As a member of the Supervisory Board at the Eastern European National University, how do you evaluate our work on the path of integration into the European educational and cultural space?
“I have been cooperating with you for six or seven years, in particular, as a member of the supervisory board, and I would like to say that over this period, the university has made enormous progress. Of course, this would be impossible without the efforts of the rector Ihor Kotsan and the entire united faculty, as well as the students, whose performance improves with each year. That is why it is very important to support the construction of the science park of the Eastern European National University. I am aware of the concept, and I know that there is a construction site and a young initiative task force for its implementation.”
We have an eight-hectare construction site, where we envisage building new laboratories, lecture halls, sports grounds, and a swimming pool.
“I have seen your concept, it is beautiful. Importantly, it includes not only exclusively academic elements, but also opportunities for leisure and sport. In American universities sport is extremely important. For instance, the University of Boston pays huge attention to sports, the university’s hockey, football, or baseball teams are so strong they could enter a professional league. Therefore, in some way, sport is a must for American universities, and it has a huge effect on students’ way of life, by shaping leadership qualities in them. And the students do not hang around in pubs after classes. They either train, or go cheer for their team, this is part of their culture of communication. And it is crucial.
“I know that now the design for the Eastern European University’s science park is going through the endorsement procedure by the oblast authorities, and then construction may begin. Of course, it is also necessary to seek sponsor who would help implement the project, because material and technological resources are very important. The know-how of American and European universities is obvious: the creation of comfortable environment. Then Ukrainian school-leavers would make the EENU their priority choice.”
“EDUCATION AS THE ENGINE OF POSITIVE TRANSFORMATIONS”
Most of the world’s top universities are situated in smaller towns rather than in capital cities. Why?
“It is crucial that education and science should not concentrate in a handful of cities; centers of schooling should be scattered across Ukraine. You are quite right to note that this principle of regional centers underlies the education and science in the US and in Europe.
“The Eastern European National University is already acquiring this status, and given the necessary resources and support, it indeed must become the leader and center in this region, the entire north-western Ukraine, and attract students from the east as well. Obviously, it would be good for the local government to make the development of university science one of its priorities: under proper conditions, it could become the engine for positive transformations, investment, tourism, and all other aspects, crucial for the region and entire Ukraine.”
Anna Levchuk is vice-rector for scholarly-pedagogical activities, European integration, and student affairs at the Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University
