Ministry of Education Begins Preparation for Three-Year Bachelor's Experiment

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is embarking on a significant initiative to prepare for an experimental three-year bachelor's degree program. This announcement was made by Deputy Minister Mykola Trofymenko via Facebook, following a meeting that included Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi and Deputy Minister Nadiya Kuzmychova. The discussions focused on the implementation of specialized senior schools and the transformation of the bachelor's degree framework.

Mykola Trofymenko emphasized that the Ministry is moving towards the practical stage of implementing these changes across both levels of education. 'We are starting the preparation for the three-year bachelor's experiment. In the near future, we will convene working groups and begin substantive work on the regulatory and methodological framework for this project. Educational programs and curricula must be prepared in advance so that by 2029, institutions are ready for the experimental launch, and by 2030, the three-year bachelor's degree becomes a standard model in those specialties where it is academically and professionally justified,' he stated.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that the introduction of specialized senior schools necessitates changes in the preparation of graduates, which in turn must reflect on higher education. 'Where the content of the program, learning outcomes, and professional requirements allow, the bachelor's degree should transition to a three-year format. This will be followed by a two-year master's program. This aligns with the current trends in European education. Higher education is already moving in this direction: greater student agency, individual educational trajectories, flexibility in program design, and the updating of standards,' Trofymenko noted.

According to him, some entrants who decide to radically change their educational profile after obtaining their certificate of complete general secondary education will have the opportunity to take an additional 'compensatory' course. This will enable them to adapt to the new requirements and standards of higher education.

At the same time, the Deputy Minister stressed that this is not about mechanically reducing the duration of studies in specialties where a longer training cycle is an objective requirement. This primarily concerns professions with complex technological demands or those that have a direct impact on the safety and health of individuals.

Trofymenko also pointed out that the legal framework for a three-year bachelor's degree has long existed, as the bachelor's level is defined in legislation as a program encompassing 180-240 ECTS credits. This opens new prospects for higher education institutions, which can develop various learning formats beyond the traditional 'bachelor's + master's' model.

In particular, according to the Deputy Minister, higher education institutions can develop formats such as adult education, short programs, certificate programs, professional development, education for veterans, as well as training for those changing careers or returning to education after a break. This also pertains to internally displaced persons and veterans who need new competencies for the labor market.

'Such demand already exists, and it will only grow. The market for informal education has long demonstrated this. Often, the same instructors from our universities work in this sector. For institutions, this represents a new audience, a stronger connection with the community, additional opportunities for development, and a proper response to new demographics and the evolving labor market,' Trofymenko emphasized.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is actively working on the implementation of a three-year bachelor's degree for graduates of the 12-year school system who plan to enter higher education institutions. This reflects the government's intentions to adapt the education system to modern requirements and societal needs.

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