27.02.2016  The MASTIS project team of Vinnytsia National Technical University examined and discussed the received documents.

The discussion was held actively and emotionally because in the Ukrainian higher education standards there is no mechanism of implementation of EU universities credits in the Ukrainian university’s curricula. As a result the document was formulated, it will allow VNTU students to implement the main features of the Bologna process.

Ukraine joined the Bologna Process in 2005 at  Bergen Conference and signed the Bergen Declaration. Thus, it has committed itself to define the trends and approaches of the reform of higher education system. Ukraine adjusted itself to Western European trends, and as one of its most important steps is to adopt the structural model and accept the Bologna Declaration and basic principles declared at the follow-up conferences.

As it is mentioned on the Bologna Process official site, The Bologna Declaration in 1999 set out a vision for 2010 of an internationally competitive and attractive European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Higher education institutions have possibility to fulfill the diverse missions in knowledge sphere; and students can find the best suited educational trajectory. As the main objective of the Bologna Process since 1999, the EHEA is more comparable, compatible and coherent systems of higher education in Europe. At 1999-2010, all efforts of the Bologna Process members were targeted to create the EHEA, that became reality in Budapest-Vienna Declaration of March, 2010. According to the Bologna Process documents the next decade (2010–2020) will be aimed at consolidate the EHEA. Ukraine became the Bologna Process participating country in 2005.

We consider, the following key priorities for action in last years are set out for implementation the Bologna Process in Ukraine high school:

– to establish conditions that will improve the student-centered learning, innovative teaching methods, supportive and inspiring working and learning environment, while there is continuing to involve students and staff in governance structures at all levels;

– to allow EQAR-registered ( the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) quality assurance agencies to perform their activities across the EHEA at complying with national requirements;

– to work to enhance employability, lifelong learning, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills through improved cooperation with employers, especially in the development of curricula;

– to ensure qualifications frameworks ECTS and Diploma Supplement implementation is based on learning outcomes; to invite countries that cannot finalize the implementation of national qualifications frameworks compatible with QF-EHEA by the end of 2012 to redouble the efforts and submit a revised roadmap for this task

– to implement the recommendations of “Mobility for better learning” strategy and work towards full portability of national grants and loans across the EHEA;

– to review the national legislation to be fully complied with the Lisbon Recognition Convention and promote the use of the EAR-manual to advance recognition practices;

– to encourage knowledge-based alliances in the EHEA, focusing on research and technology.

At last, over the last years, Ukraine has passed a complicated and responsible way to join the EHEA. Much has been done. Something was successful, something needs to be improved and implemented. According to the Yerevan Communiqué (May 2015) by 2020 Ukraine should focus on the following key issues: enhancing the quality and relevance of learning and teaching; fostering the employability of graduates; making the system more inclusive; implementing agreed structural reforms. We think, special attention should be paid to the following – to harmonize the relevant national documents with the revised Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG); the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programs and the revised ECTS Users’ Guide, as an official EHEA document.