Significant systemic changes in the field of education began in 2015 – the goal was to reform the Ukrainian school so that the knowledge and skills acquired during this time were needed in the world, and that our students knew and knew the same thing as a British, German or American. These changes included reducing the number of higher education institutions, creating support schools, introducing a New Ukrainian School system, and new approaches to teaching and assessment. As the reform was not completed, the coverage of higher schools or vocational schools did not take place. The key problem facing society, government, institutions – to predict future realities and train professionals in areas that will be needed in 30-40 years as well. To do this, not only a system of human training at the general theoretical level must be established, but also the provision of knowledge and skills in vocational and technical institutions and universities, which a person will be able to commercialize already during his studies.
Of course, we can discuss for a long time which model we need more and which less, but focusing on the best educational achievements of Germany, Britain, and the United States will be the right choice. We need people to have the competencies they understand how to use here and now. To put it bluntly, it is a complex process of increasing social capital, increasing the human development index, and retraining or multiple specializations of people. So that during his life, even changing up to 20 professions, a person continues to produce and create, increasing his wealth and the well-being of society. Since Ukraine has chosen its place in the EU, it should think about it now, when today’s students will not be in the national market in the future, but open Europe, where they will have to compete with neighbors for places, even in the country itself.
Focused on young people Pitsco Education – stimulate the development of thinking, allow engaging in robotics and understanding the laws of nature; because a startup combines core disciplines that enable students to solve problems, be creative, think with their hands, work together and express ideas. For decades, changes in education have been constantly focused on providing practical learning opportunities based on competence and collaboration. Here students have the opportunity to get acquainted with practical cases, try, test, study. The most popular topics are space, robots, and gradually artificial intelligence. From an early age, a person can test himself and find out whether the strength and interest in the topic. As the ratings of the United States and Europe show, they succeed. In this way, children from an early age become closer to science, innovation, discovery, and choose the path not “by touch”, but decisively and affirmatively, with great prospects.
NI – is about Aerospace, Defense, and Government. NI has developed automated tests and automated measurement systems that help engineers solve the world’s toughest challenges. Everyone can use the system, test complex theories, and find answers to complex questions. And this is possible without lengthy inspections and costs, as the priority is a fast and high-quality result.
Adherence to standards is not even an investment in the future, it is a direct need to pay for basic goods, without which Ukraine may find itself on the periphery of Europe, although today it has greater potential for many member states. Among the world practices are, for example, Engineer Ambitiously, which offers a graphical programming environment for test and measurement applications with large IP libraries, extensive hardware compatibility, and a large community of developers. Many measuring systems help engineers solve the most complex problems in the world. It should be noted that many national tools are analogs, but significantly lose to these systems due to the complexity, obsolescence in the absence of attractive approaches. But such models, flagships, can qualitatively turn the attitude in our country to science and technology.
Therefore, the division into primary, secondary, and major schools is promising, when the student first gets acquainted with everything (theoretical and practical level together), then intensively studies the base in which he wants to work, and in high school acquires the skills that lead him to work. And what is very important, this is the place where people will make discoveries and do their research. For the benefit of all.
When it comes to quality investments, as with the above examples, we should expect both the motivation of participants in the educational process and a greater bias towards technology and science. Against the background of a difficult situation with mastering mathematics and the wide choice of humanities, such approaches will qualitatively change the priorities among young people. On the other hand, the studied bases and understanding of the functioning of systems and processes will make Ukrainians trained to the European and world level specialists who will compete with other people. And the state as a whole will become more understandable and valuable in the global division of labor – it will be looked at not only as a source of cheap workers but also skilled technicians, engineers, scientists, developers, and others. In a short time, domestic “schools” of cybernetics, instrumentation, robotics, strategic development, etc. Today, these industries are the leading ones in the world and those where Ukraine can occupy a worthy niche.
If this happens, Kyiv will become a large Eastern European hub, where multinational corporations will go, where startups will develop, where there will be a demand for innovative products and solutions. Step by step, Ukraine will definitely become a part of the world system of production of high-tech products, which is inextricably linked with defense, military, technological and other spheres. The integrated structures will work together with Europeans and Americans, which will gradually make Ukraine part of the Western security and defense system. This is how positive changes in education should be understood and interpreted – as a national priority and an opportunity for the state to make a qualitative leap – in the economy, innovation, technology, security, and everything else. Without basic research and exact sciences, we will be doomed, but historical experience shows the capabilities of the Ukrainian people, who donated to the world`s largest aircraft ever built, the first helicopter, the first (not yet Rentgen) radiation, and much more. Ukraine can become a large, rich, and reliable partner, the potential of which far exceeds many other countries. And only openness to change and continuous learning, the pursuit of truth can lead us to victory.
Oleksandr Shevtsov
CEO Dixi Education
Mykola Volkivskyi
Government Relations expert
Ukrainian political scientist
A Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program Fellow 2021/2022
