In Ukraine, almost 50 universities will be reduced: when and how many educational institutions will remain.

Ukraine plans to reduce the number of universities in the country by 2030.

This was reported by Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykhailo Vinnytsky.

The Ministry of Education and Science intends to modernize the Ukrainian higher education system by 2030, which includes reducing the number of universities.

According to Vinnytsky, there are 151 state universities in Ukraine, of which 121 are under the Ministry of Education and Science, while the rest are subject to other ministries. In addition, there are colleges, research institutions, and 90 private universities.

The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science noted that there are significant discrepancies among private universities between the top ones and others. Top universities attract strong applicants and provide quality education, while others mainly accept students who did not pass the admission competition to state institutions. There are doubts whether such students will be able to obtain higher education.

However, the Ministry does not plan to merge universities that are unique in their city, especially in cities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people. These unique intellectual centers, which are city-forming institutions, should exist and develop.

The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Science mentioned that this process of modernizing the higher education system will take decades, and a new network of Ukrainian universities should be formed by around 2030.

The Minister also emphasized that demographic situations and the needs of each region are taken into account in this process.

The problem of universities lagging behind is observed not only in western Ukraine but also in the east. Meanwhile, universities in the east offer innovative solutions in education.

The gap that exists arises from differences in the managerial capabilities of the leadership of different universities and has nothing to do with the war, Vinnytsky noted.

According to forecasts from the Ministry of Education and Science, the number of higher educational institutions in Ukraine will decrease to approximately 100, which corresponds to international standards.