Leading Global Professors to Teach in Ukraine: Government Approves Mechanism to Attract International Scholars through the Fund of the President - Новини - Фонд Президента України з підтримки освіти, науки та спорту

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Leading Global Professors to Teach in Ukraine: Government Approves Mechanism to Attract International Scholars through the Fund of the President

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted an important decision aimed at strengthening higher education and research. Amendments to Resolution No. 347 of 14 April 2021 officially introduce a transparent mechanism for attracting foreign professors, researchers, and experts to work in Ukraine through the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports.

This decision positions Ukraine as an active participant in the global academic landscape. From now on, the integration of international expertise will become a systematic process rather than an occasional initiative, directly contributing to national recovery and the strengthening of human capital.

“Our goal is to make Ukrainian universities genuinely competitive in terms of teaching quality, research excellence, and international partnerships. It is important that they are visible globally – in academic communities, research projects, and international rankings. Engaging specialists with global experience will strengthen our universities and open access to modern programmes and international networks, allowing them to become an integral part of the global educational ecosystem.

This decision is equally important for Ukrainian students. We aim to create an attractive educational environment in Ukraine where young people will want to study, grow, and build their future. One of the key missions of the Fund of the President of Ukraine is to bring the best international experience to Ukraine and integrate it into our institutions. We are working to open new opportunities for young people, because Ukrainians deserve world-class education in their own country,”

said Olha Budnyk, Advisor and Authorized Representative of the President of Ukraine for the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports.

From Visits to Full-Scale Cooperation

The approved mechanism enables the integration of international experts into the activities of Ukrainian universities and research institutions. This includes participation in the development of academic programmes, conducting research, mentoring students and early-career researchers, and implementing applied solutions that contribute to Ukraine’s development.

“Ukraine is entering international partnerships as an active stakeholder in education, science, and research. There is strong interest and readiness from university professors, researchers, and experts worldwide – including those from EU and NATO countries – to participate in joint educational initiatives, research projects, and collaborations here in Ukraine, as well as to work with Ukrainian students and scholars. We now have all the necessary tools to support this: competitions will be transparent and funding predictable,”

noted Mykola Trofymenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.

How the Mechanism Will Work: Transparency and Digitalisation

The programme is based on Presidential grants designed to attract international experts to Ukraine. The entire process – from application submission by universities to the competitive selection of candidates – will be conducted through the digital information and communication system “E-Grant” of the Fund of the President of Ukraine. This system ensures full transparency, eliminates unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, and makes funding predictable.

The competition procedures will be developed by the Fund of the President of Ukraine and approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Competitions will then be announced to select candidates in accordance with specific requests from universities and research institutions – covering academic programmes, research areas, joint projects, and applied developments.

“Talented Ukrainian youth who study and plan to build their careers in Ukraine deserve access to high-quality education at home. The arrival of leading international scholars from the world’s Top-250 universities to teach and conduct research in Ukrainian universities is a powerful signal that Ukrainian science and education are integrated into the global research community, competitive, and continuously developing,”

said Yuriy Petrushenko, Director of the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports.

Importantly, the implementation of this programme will not require additional expenditures from state or local budgets. Funding will be provided through attracted resources and other sources permitted by legislation.

First Step: UK–Ukraine Visiting Professors Programme

While the new mechanism is being scaled up, the Fund of the President of Ukraine has already launched pilot initiatives. One of them is the UK–UA Visiting Professors Programme, aimed at attracting British professors to teach at Ukrainian universities.

The programme seeks to integrate Ukraine into the international academic and research environment and to enhance the quality of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) through the exchange of knowledge, modern approaches, and best practices between universities in Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

The development of these fields is a strategic priority for strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities, advancing technological innovation, and supporting large-scale national reconstruction. International collaboration will also help Ukrainian researchers integrate more rapidly into EU and NATO research networks, enabling the implementation of joint scientific projects.