Higher Education in Ukraine: Current Problems and Probable Social Consequences of its Reforming in the Context of Neoliberal Transformation

Abstract

The paper brings to the forefront experts’ assessments of the reforms in Ukraine’s higher education system in accordance with Western neoliberal standards. The following ideas have been discussed: though higher education reform is expected to bring more autonomy to universities, promote flexibility in designing curricula and thus to improve opportunities for social, including academic mobility, its implementation will entail rising costs of higher education, restriction of access to high-quality education, aggravation of social inequality, reduction of teaching staff and further growth in unemployment. Moreover, social and cultural mission of the today’s university as a producer of general social benefits may be levelled since the university will have to turn into an articulator of private business and big corporations' interests.