ISSUES OF IMPROVING THE SYSTEM OF TRAINING OF SCIENTIFIC STAFF IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine requires not only the restoration of economic and social potential but also the creation of qualitatively new socio-economic relations that would ensure sustainable development and the country’s successful integration into the European Union and NATO. One of the key factors in this process is the formation of a strong intellectual potential capable of generating innovation and strengthening Ukraine’s international standing. However, the country has yet to develop sufficient conditions for producing the necessary “intellectual energy,” which is hindered not only by limited funding for science but also by the distorted system of research training.
Although Ukraine joined the Bologna Process in 2005, its implementation has largely remained formal. The national approach has focused mainly on promoting academic mobility, while in Europe the Bologna Process aims at harmonizing higher education systems while respecting diverse academic traditions. This difference is reflected in the Salzburg Principles (2005) and subsequent recommendations (2010, 2016), which define doctoral education as a special form of activity aimed at generating new knowledge, developing critical and creative thinking, and fostering interdisciplinary approaches.
The Ukrainian PhD model remains overly oriented toward continuous academic progression, leaving little room for candidates with professional experience who could contribute to research from a practical perspective. This reduces both the quality and the relevance of doctoral training to the needs of science and the economy. It is therefore proposed to expand the role of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in organizing PhD training, following European practice where the majority of dissertations are defended outside university doctoral schools. Implementing such changes could transform Ukraine’s intellectual potential into a key driver of its European integration.