The main reason for this disparity lies in historical and internal political factors. The Ministry of Education seemingly tries to improve the process and the efficiency of education every year, but the Soviet system is firmly entrenched and still prevails in educational institutions and teaching methods. Unfortunately, this is compounded by high levels of corruption and bureaucracy.
So, let’s take a look at the Bologna education system in its European (as it should be) context.
Firstly, there’s a division into degrees. It’s with the introduction of this concept that bachelor’s and master’s programs emerged. The duration of a bachelor’s program is 3.5-4 years, and a master’s program takes 1.5-2 years.
Secondly, a supplement to the diploma is issued, listing all the subjects the student has studied and the number of hours spent on them. This significantly facilitates the employment process because employers can immediately see the range of university skills possessed by an individual. It’s possible that among these skills, there are some that are quite different from the chosen specialization. For example, foreign languages or rhetoric alongside programming or advanced mathematics.
A special credit system is also in place. Each subject has its minimum and maximum number of credits. To progress to the next course, a student must accumulate a certain number of credits from all subjects. This allows the education recipient to plan their own schedule, decide on the subjects to focus on the most, and choose only the directions that are interesting to them.
The system is also designed to promote international mobility for students and educators as much as possible. While studying, young people simultaneously practice foreign languages with native speakers, learn the culture and mentality of another country, its history, and make new acquaintances. It’s not just about enjoyment but also about being inspired by education. Moreover, the student loses nothing at their home university: neither credits nor knowledge, as the program in all countries is standardized.
The significance of a diploma of this kind should be no less than that of a country participating in the Bologna Process. For example, a student who received education in Germany and came to work in Italy with this diploma cannot be disputed as having an inadequate education. They can also continue their studies by enrolling in a master’s program abroad.
This is what European education standards look like, and these are the standards followed by Nobel laureates, current diplomats, doctors, popular journalists, and writers. Ukraine is on the path to achieving such results, and as a result, it will produce even more renowned figures for the world.
