ACADEMIC RANKING - PREREQUISITE FOR IMPLEMENTING QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The article examines the problems and prospects of the accreditation system as a tool for ensuring the quality of higher education in Ukraine. The state and peculiarities of integration of the Ukrainian accreditation system into the European context are investigated. The purpose of this study is to analyse the accreditation system of higher education in Ukraine and to study its impact on ensuring the quality of education in accordance with European standards. The emphasis is placed on analysing the theoretical and practical aspects of accreditation in Ukraine, identifying problems and opportunities for further improvement. The study uses general scientific methods. The method of documentary analysis was also used. The article examines topical issues related to the accreditation system of higher education in Ukraine, in particular the factors that affect its effectiveness and compliance with European standards. The analysis of the state of integration of the Ukrainian accreditation system into the European dimension has revealed key challenges and prospects. The theoretical aspect of the study highlights the conceptual foundations of accreditation, its goals, and impact on the quality of education. The practical analysis revealed problems such as the lack of a unified assessment methodology and insufficient coordination between accreditation bodies. The results of the study can serve as a basis for developing specific strategies and recommendations to improve the effectiveness of accreditation and maintain higher quality standards in Ukrainian higher education. The article emphasises that accreditation is an important tool for monitoring and ensuring the quality of higher education in Ukraine. It serves not only as a mechanism for determining the compliance of higher education institutions with the established standards but also guarantees a high standard of education and compliance with academic standards. Recommendations for improving the quality of higher education in Ukraine are proposed, taking into account the European experience in the field of accreditation. The study emphasises the importance of affinity with European models and the need for active cooperation to ensure a high standard of quality of higher education in Ukraine.

Purpose. The goal of the article is to highlight the aspects of implementing the educational-process automated management system “SEL”, which has been adapted to the existing stable processes in higher education institutions and realities of higher education in Ukraine. In particular, the study focuses on the implementation of the module “Teacher’s Individual Work Plan”, which significantly simplifies and optimizes the work of teachers. Methodology. To characterize the automated system “SEL”, research methods such as comparison and synthesis are used. To justify the effectiveness of the proposed system, a critical analysis method is used, while recommendations for further improvement of the system’s operation are developed using the generalization method. Findings. The article describes the aspects of implementing the “SEL” system at Vinnytsia Institute of Trade and Economics of State University of Trade and Economics. The system meets modern quality standards, considers the specifics of higher education in Ukraine, integrates with other information systems, and supports scalability for various user needs. Functional modules, including the “Teacher’s Individual Work Plan” and the elective subject selection system, are presented as tools that enhance the efficiency, transparency, and quality of educational services. The integration process of the module “Teacher’s Individual Work Plan” with other system modules is also detailed. Originality. The “SEL” automated system is developed, which, through automation and digitalization of educational services, improves the management of higher education institution. In particular, the use of unique modules such as “Teacher’s Individual Work Plan” and “Elective Subjects” enables the automation of processes and facilitates the work of the teacher and the process of elective subject selection by higher education students. Practical value. The developed system “SEL” makes it possible to implement the main functions for planning, organizing, motivating and controlling the educational process, scientific, methodological and organizational activities in a higher education institution.

The paper highlights the opportunities for implementing an cross-disciplinary approach in institutions of professional pre-higher and higher education in Ukraine under conditions of decentralization. The paper aims to identify the status and prospects of implementing the cross-disciplinary approach in institutions of professional pre-higher and higher education under conditions of guaranteed academic autonomy. The following theoretical methods are used in research: analysis of scientific literature and legislative acts; synthesis, systematization and generalization of the obtained results; surveys; statistical processing of empirical data. The results. It is found out that the academic autonomy of vocational schools and higher education institutions in Ukraine is declared at the state level through the right to introduce specialties, develop and implement educational programs, independently determine forms of education and forms of organizing educational process, determine the content and curricular, provide publishing activities. The results of the survey among both vocational schools teachers and higher education institutions teachers show that the realization of the right to academic autonomy for different participants of educational process is not equal. They are most implemented for the education institutions administration, then for teachers and only then for students. It is substantiated that implementing the principle of autonomy of pre-higher and higher education institutions under the conditions of increased influence of the global labour market on education and growing qualification gap actualizes the need to introduce the cross-disciplinary approach. A survey aimed at introducing forms of cross-disciplinary education shows their above-average use in vocational schools and higher education institutions, mostly in cross-disciplinary links, combining knowledge, methods from different specialties while studying individual subjects and between disciplines in the curriculum. The direction of development of cross-disciplinary programs is the least realized in practice. Conclusions. Positive developments in terms of efficiency, productivity, quality and affordability are possible only if all the stakeholders unite their efforts as well as the staff of vocational schools and higher education institutions start to work together. The research provides the basis to assert that the strategic directions for developing educational sector in Ukraine aimed at decentralization and autonomy identified at the state level are relevant. The autonomy of educational institutions improves the quality of vocational education through the development and implementation of new specialties and specializations, the integration of educational programs within individual specialties, strengthening cross-disciplinary links at the level of content and teaching methodology.

The actualization of research on the problem of charitable and philanthropic support for the formation of higher education institutions of Ukraine is due to the fact that constructive retro-experience has prospects for use for the post-war recovery and development of modern institutions of higher education in Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to analyze the experience of charitable and philanthropic support for the establishment of higher education institutions in Ukraine at the beginning of the 19th century. Research methods. Achieving the goal of the article made it possible to use the methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, concretization and generalization. The article specifies the main approaches to interpreting the concepts of «charity», «charitable activity», «patronage», «patronage activity». Based on the analysis of dissertations and scientific publications, it was established that the establishment of higher education institutions in Ukraine at the beginning of the 19th century took place with significant charitable and philanthropic support from broad sections of the population: nobles, craftsmen, former Cossacks, and peasants. It manifested itself in the provision of funds for the opening of higher education institutions, the transfer of material assets and land allotments, etc., which significantly supplemented budget funding. The value of the experience of charitable and philanthropic support for the formation and development of the system of higher education in Ukraine in the first half of the 19th century is indicated, since philanthropists were the initiators and sponsors of the opening of most universities, higher women's courses, lyceums and schools (gymnasiums) of higher sciences, and philanthropic support for the opening and development of universities and institutions of higher professional education in Ukraine in the 19th century became a common phenomenon.

Quality assurance and quality management are the main challenges in the management of higher education institutions not only in Ukraine but also in the world in the context of sustainable development and the coronavirus crisis. In this context, the need to promote a culture of quality at university level is becoming increasingly important. The concept of quality culture expands traditional approaches to quality assurance, focusing on aspects of organizational psychology such as shared attitudes and commitment to quality. However, studies of methodological approaches to the problems of quality assurance management in higher education have not been sufficiently reflected in domestic research. That is why, at the present stage, there is an urgent need to study the problems of quality management in higher education at both internal and external levels. The article considers the theoretical foundations of the culture of quality of higher education, its necessity and role in the development of higher education in Ukraine. Conducted research on the experience of EU countries in external evaluation of the quality of higher education. Research of the experience of institutional accreditation in the European Union, because institutional accreditation is currently absent in Ukraine, despite the fact that it is prescribed in the Law of Ukraine "On Higher Education". Evaluation and construction of the Gap model, which identified the basic requirements for high-quality educational services based on the identification of contradictions that lead to consumer dissatisfaction with the quality of educational services received, including various contradictions. However, a study of the Ukrainian experience in assessing the quality of educational services allows us to conclude that in most cases a general rating assessment of higher education institutions that provide educational services, rather than the quality of services directly provided by them. And internal quality assurance systems in Ukrainian universities are in the process of formation and need significant development, taking into account the experience of universities in the European Union.

The experience of the United States, where in higher education students are trained for conscious social activities and independent responsibility for the benefit of the community and society as a whole, seems to be significant for the theory and practice of higher education in Ukraine. The appeal to the American educational experience is due to the fact that today the United States as a state governed by the rule of law is a reliable guarantor of individual rights and freedoms, provided by strong traditions of civic education – the key to educating students' social values. At the same time, the interest in higher education in the United States is due to its high prestige within the world educational environment, its well-known democratic orientation and constant content and methodological improvement. In the United States, training graduates in adapting to their social life as responsible citizens-members of certain communities and professionals in society has historically been a duty of higher education. The purpose of the article is to highlight the features of the educational process in the course of general education in the framework of undergraduate studies within the US higher education, institutions, which contribute to the development of students’ social values. It is noted that the pedagogical experience of the United States, where students are being trained in conscious social activities and independent responsible activities for the benefit of society in higher education institutions, is useful for the theory and practice of higher education in Ukraine. The methodology of the research is based on the analysis of scholarly and pedagogical sources of the USA and Ukraine on the problem under study with the elements of induction and deduction to characterise the state of its development in the USA; the summarising of the organisation of various types of training in the US higher education institutions, which provide for the formation of students’ social values. The originality of the research lies in the fact that for the first time in the Ukrainian pedagogical science, the views of American scholars on the types of training, as well as the civic engagement of students in the U.S. higher education institutions which contribute to the development of their social values have been summarised. It has been found out that today, in higher education in the United States, students’ engagement into social activities during their general education ensures their readiness for a meaningful and responsible life in an interdependent world characterised by uncertainty and rapid changes. By teaching leadership and community service through dialogue and collaboration, the U.S. colleges and universities contribute to the development of students’ social values, social and intellectual development of students who, moving from a comfort zone to a contact zone, are able to interact effectively within a variety of situations.

Purpose: development of recommendations for the study of security-oriented disciplines by students of higher educational institutions. Methodology: Analysis and generalisation of research results regarding the need of higher education students to study security-oriented disciplines. Results: In the conditions of modern warfare, knowledge and understanding of security issues are of critical importance for students of technical specialties. It helps them to be aware of the threats and risks associated with armed conflict and make the right decisions to ensure personal and collective security, and provides the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively respond to emergencies and save lives. Therefore, in the article: information on the state of higher education in Ukraine until February 2022 has been studied and summarised; the need of students of higher technical education to study security-oriented disciplines during the war was investigated; an expert survey was conducted among students who are studying for the Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees of two higher technical educational institutions – the State Higher Educational Institution “Donetsk National Technical University” and Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. It was established that about eighty percent of the respondents are in favour of mandatory study of security-oriented disciplines during martial law, as an opportunity to ensure their own safety and the safety of others, help others and be useful in war conditions. A new concept of civil security education in higher technical institutions under martial law from the point of view of studying individual disciplines is proposed, which consists of the following: improvement of training plans for higher education applicants. recommendations for students of technical higher education institutions to study the following disciplines (in order of priority): “Life safety”, “Occupational safety”, “Fire safety”, “Civil protection”, “Environmental safety”, “Psychology of hazards”. Mandatory courses for students on pre-medical care, psychological help for themselves and others, military training should be introduced. Scientific innovation: a scientific approach has been developed to clarify the new concept of civil security education in higher technical institutions under martial law. Practical significance: the results of the work can be used in the preparation of educational plans for applicants of higher technical educational institutions.

The article emphasizes the need for orientation of higher education in Ukraine to meet the educational needs of the individual, to restore the intellectual, spiritual potential of the nation, the output of domestic science, technology and culture to world European levels, the formation of statehood and democracy in society, the provision of the labor market by highly skilled and competitive specialists. The condition for ensuring such orientation is the change in the relevant quality indicators of higher education through the change in the national idea of higher education; the development of higher education should be subject to the laws of a market economy; Higher education development should be considered in the context of trends in the development of world educational systems, including Western European ones. A group of standards has been negotiated under the terms of guaranteeing the quality of higher education - these are standards for the internal quality assurance of institutions of higher education; - standards for external quality assurance of institutions of higher education; - European Standards for External Agencies for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. The process of assessing the quality of higher education in Ukraine, which is conducted under internal and external procedures, is investigated, namely: - the process of internal evaluation includes systematic collection of administrative information, interviews of students and graduates, informal discussions with teachers and students; - The component of external evaluation is the attendance of the faculty by the control group to determine the quality of teaching and teaching. External observers are teachers or people of professional background who, based on communication with students and young researchers, make a final report. Within the framework of the definition of psychological and pedagogical conditions for improving the quality of higher education in Ukraine, it is proposed to use the experience of the quality assurance system in European countries, namely: - a culture of quality assurance: availability of strategy, policy and atmosphere of internal quality assurance of higher education institutions; - culture of quality assurance: the autonomy of institutions of higher education as a prerequisite for the effectiveness of quality assurance processes; - culture of quality assurance: external quality assurance as a function of an independent agency and the direction of external quality assessment to improve the performance of institutions of higher education; - Motivation for quality assurance; - quality assurance of scientific activity: from the index of quotes to peer review; - the interaction of universities with stockholders; - reform of the third cycle of higher education; - Internationalization as a tool for quality assurance; - the role of students in the processes of quality assurance.

The integration of Ukrainian higher education into the European educational area is a key condition for its reform and development. It provides for the activation of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union in the field of higher education, harmonization of higher education systems, deepening of cooperation between higher education institutions of different countries, increasing the quality and importance of higher education in social processes, expanding the autonomy of universities and participation in academic mobility programs. The model of the European integration of higher education in Ukraine was developed. It can be used by other countries, taking into account the national features of their educational systems. The completeness of the adopted decisions and implemented measures regarding the modernization of the structure of higher education and the National Framework of Qualifications, the introduction of modern standards and educational programs, the principles and mechanisms of their development and implementation, compliance with European norms of organisation of educational process were studied and evaluated. The process of development the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance as the key element of the quality system was analyzed. It has been established that all measures are carried out according to European practices and are consistent with the goals set by the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Ukraine in 2022-2032. These are significant steps towards improving the quality of Ukrainian higher education. It was determined that certain components of European integration are still in the process of implementation. It was emphasized that significant efforts will be required to rebuild Ukraine as a whole, to restore and develop higher education, in particular, in the postwar period in connection with the losses incurred because of the aggression of the Russian Federation. Received: 14 February 2023Accepted: 20 April 2024

The paper summarizes the experience in higher education institutions financing, substantiates the trends in their financial support models diversification. The study systematizes approaches to the organization of higher education institutions financing under market conditions and reveals their advantages and disadvantages in terms of the effects at the level of an individual and society as a whole. It defines tools and models of the financing under orientation on demand, supply and strategic purposes of the national development. The study proves the need to substantiate the rational balance of individual and social effects in higher education institutions financing, which can be achieved through a combination of market self-regulation and state regulation of the higher education services market. The system of methods was used in the study, namely: monographic – to define the research aim and conclusions, the method of theoretical generalization of foreign and domestic scientists was used to critically analyze the existing approaches to the organization of financing the work of agricultural education higher institutions. General scientific methods of cognition, such as analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systemic integrated approach, were used to systematize the models of financial support for higher agricultural education institutions and to generalize the conclusions. The paper substantiated that the state should take leading positions in higher education institutions financing. The role of state funding in ensuring sustainable development of agricultural education higher institutions has been identified considering the specificity of educational services and their role in ensuring sustainable development of the agricultural sector of the economy and rural areas. It is argued that the current conditions of free economic development and challenges the institutions face requires focusing on consumer demand and adjusting their educational services through prompt updating the changing educational programs based on modern research, attracting a larger number of stakeholders in the financing model formation. The modern tendencies typical of the market of educational services determining the expansion of the participants of the organization of financing the higher education institutions activity, are considered. The importance of financing elements focused on the innovations development, the role of which will grow in the future, especially in the form of competitive and targeted financing is revealed. It is proved that the results-based approach to the organization of financing also reduces the risks of macroeconomic inefficiency and contributes to reducing the information asymmetry. The obligatory presence of the state in the organization of research funding in higher education institutions is justified due to the positive impact of research on educational services quality and increases their value for an individual and society. The paper considers options for market-oriented higher education financing and the state's demands in terms of the concept of management, public and private funding methods, the education fee. It is established that the changing conditions of the market of educational services require a revision of targets for state funding due to the following factors: increased number of foreign students, use of information and communication technologies, increase in the integration of higher education institutions nationally and internationally. Key words: higher education institution, higher agricultural education, concepts of higher education institution management, methods of free economic education financing, sources of higher education institutions financing.

<p>The article deals with the problems of the quality of education. It has been<br> determined that the quality of education is considered as the degree of compliance of<br> a set of characteristics with the current requirements. The quality of education is<br> aimed at meeting the requirements of several stake holders: consumers, owners,<br> employees of institutions, organizations and the society as a whole. In connection<br> with this, the assessment of the quality is a complex and controversial social process<br> which cannot be reduced to control only. A significant regulatory framework which<br> should regulate and ensure the quality of educational processes, the quality of<br> providing educational services, the quality of specialists’ level of competence has<br> been analyzed. The legal acts which guarantee the specified processes include: the<br> Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education”, the Regulations “On the Educational<br> Process Organization in Higher Educational Institutions”, the Regulations on<br> Graduate Education, the Regulations of the Ministry of Education and Science of<br> Ukraine “On the Organization of Research Work of Students in Higher Educational<br> Institutions” and others. Higher educational institutions of Ukraine have the<br> authority to develop their own normative documents which take into account the<br> specifics of the university and the peculiarities of the organization of the educational<br> process (for example, the Regulations on the Сertification for the Educational<br> Degrees “Bachelor” and “Master” of H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical<br> University, Regulations on Teaching Practice of Students of the H.S. Skovoroda<br> Kharkiv National Pedagogical University). The guideline for ensuring the quality of<br> education is the international standard ISO 8402:1994 (which complies with the state<br> standard of Ukraine DSTU 3230-95). It has been noted that other standards also<br> function successfully. The issues of the quality are important not only for universities,<br> state institutions, public organizations, but also for all stake holders of the<br> educational process in Ukraine (prospective students, their parents, students,<br> teaching staff, employers). In order to monitor the quality of providing educational<br> services and the level of education in general, the article describes innovative<br> approaches to the implementation of this process. It has been determined that it is</p> <p>necessary to take into account the achievements of native and foreign pedagogy,<br> international experience in assessing the quality of higher education, to provide a<br> permanent communication between students and teachers, to understand employers’<br> demands, to continuously improve the scientific and methodological level of teachers,<br> to create conditions for mobility of teachers and students, to build up the material<br> and technical base.</p>

The article substantiates the priority tasks of reforming the system of higher education in Ukraine. The current state of higher professional education and its tasks are defined; the principles of modern European education are highlighted. Moreover, the components and functions of the organization of the educational process in higher education institutions are identified. The emphasis is placed on the development of pedagogical workers’ professional and pedagogical excellence, the raise of the level of their readiness to use personal development and information and communication technologies, electronic learning tools, information and analytical systems for managing the development of vocational education and students’ training. The recommendations of the European Higher Education Area regarding the development of higher education in the EU countries are substantiated. The author stresses that today one of the main principles of modern European education, which is responsible for the qualitative aspect of training and acquisition of professional competencies, is the mobility of students and teachers. It is noted that the influence of integration processes and the growing role of globalization cause the need to use the international educational standards in the field of education. The influence of reforming the system of higher education onto the creation of favorable conditions for the professional growth of a future specialist is substantiated. Over the last years the improving of the higher education quality have occupied the dominating place in the issues of ensuring the competitiveness of Ukraine’s educational system and training a personnel of a particullar qualification. The author also noted that the influence of integration processes, the growing role of globalization сause the need to use the international educational standards in the field of education. The impact of the higher education system reforming onto the creating of favorable conditions for the development of a person throughout its life, in particular, its professional growth, is theoretically grounded as the key to the development of national intellectual potential. The growing requirements for the quality of training specialists in proffesional education require further theoretical and practical development of the improvement of the system of higher professional education of Ukraine, its recognition in the European and world space, which will be an important step on the way to the professionalism of modern specialists.

Introduction. The current development of higher education in Ukraine is taking place amid crisis transformations associated with martial law, economic instability, digital inequality, and psychological exhaustion among participants in the educational process. In such conditions, traditional approaches to assessing the quality of education are proving insufficient, as they do not take into account the complex impact of external and internal threats. There is a growing need for a scientific rethinking of the factors that determine the quality of the educational process and for updating the methodology for assessing the performance of higher education institutions. Purpose. Identify factors that influence the quality of the educational process in higher education in times of crisis and classify them. Methods. The study uses a set of theoretical methods: review of scientific literature, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, generalisation and comparison. This methodological approach made it possible to systematically compare normative provisions, scientific approaches and actual challenges of Ukrainian higher education functioning in conditions of war and socio-economic transformations. Results. It has been established that the quality of the educational process is shaped by four interrelated groups of factors: socio-economic, organisational, psychological and technological. Their role in ensuring the accessibility of education, managerial efficiency, motivational stability and innovative development of the educational environment has been substantiated. The criteria for assessing the quality of the educational process, which cover professional knowledge, readiness for professional activity, the structure of individual professional qualities and additional value characteristics, have been systematised. It has been shown that comprehensive consideration of these factors is a necessary condition for improving internal quality assurance systems and adapting universities to extraordinary conditions. Originality. For the first time, a system of influence of technological, psychological, socio-economic and organisational factors on the quality of the educational process has been substantiated, taking into account the specifics of the functioning of Ukrainian higher education institutions in conditions of martial law. Approaches to structuring quality assessment criteria have been improved, and a systematic model of their action and manifestations in the educational environment has been proposed. Conclusion. The study shows that the quality of the educational process in crisis conditions is an integral characteristic that is formed under the influence of a multidimensional system of factors. Their comprehensive consideration determines the stability of universities and the effectiveness of educational programmes. Prospects for further research lie in the need for empirical verification of analytically identified factors, the development of quantitative indicators of their impact, and the creation of practical recommendations for mitigating the negative effects of socio-economic, organisational, psychological and technological challenges.

The article is devoted to the problem of interaction of the labor market and higher education in modern Ukrainian society. On the basis of the analysis of statistical data and the results of sociological surveys of different categories of the population, it is concluded that the market of educational services in the present-day Ukraine functions, mainly in itself, poorly interacting with the labor market. It is noted that the significant manifestation of the structural imbalance of supply and demand in the labor market is the discrepancy between the structure, volume and quality of graduates’ training of higher education institutions for the needs of employers, the economy of Ukraine as a whole, as well as informal and part-time employment, part-time, and the widespread practice of employment of graduates of educational institutions is not specialty, labor migration, the inability of the educational services market to react in a timely manner to the changes taking place in the labor market. Overcoming the separation of higher education from the domestic labor market is impossible without increasing of relationship between theoretical and practical training of students. The article emphasizes that this, as the European experience shows, can be effectively carried out through the introduction of dual education in Ukraine under the current conditions. After all, the dual education system, as one of the modern models of co-operation in training with production, meets the interests of all parties involved in it - employers, students, higher education institutions, as well as the state. The article emphasizes that this, as the European experience shows, can be effectively implemented under the current conditions through the introduction of dual education in Ukraine. After all, the dual education system, as one of the modern models of co-operation in training with production, meets the interests of all parties involved in it - employers, students, higher education institutions, as well as the state. It is noted that the elements of dual education in the form of a combination of work with education in the format of education in the evening or correspondence form of study, as well as in the format of educational institutions at large industrial enterprises, existed in the Soviet Union during the heyday there planning and administrative systems, but in the transition to a market economy in the post-Soviet countries were neglected. Attention is drawn to the fact that dual education should not be idealized, it has not only advantages but also certain limitations. A dual form of training is not suitable for all and not always, not for each specialty. It is best suited for training professionals in areas such as economics, business administration, engineering, social security. Limited possibilities of using dual education in the preparation of art critics and humanists. The article states that the idea of introducing dual higher education in Ukraine is positively perceived as the direction of the branch ministry of education and ordinary citizens. The data of the sociological survey of inhabitants of the Dnieper in the city about the fact that the introduction of dual education, according to citizens, should not be obligatory for all universitys or all students and should start only from the senior courses of study.

Modelling vocational training of specialists for the speciality 017 “Physical culture and sports”: ways and methods of incorporating regional peculiarities and needs in conditions of the stage education