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Professional training at a working place
88 
74 
85 
79 
- local availability of specialized training 
services 
84 
78 
77 
68 
- extent of staff training 
92 
74 
94 
88 

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308 
availability of skilled employees – 80,8 (35
th
). 
According to the Human Development Index by the United Nations 
Development Programme in 2018 Ukraine is rated 88 (“high human 
development”) out of 189 countries and improved its position 
comparing with 90th place in 2016 [20]. The HDI sub index “education 
index” has been above average and has been constantly improving since 
1990 from 0,648 up to 0,794 in 2014-2017. 
As a result of above discussed we distinguish such main problems in 
Ukrainian HE and indicate possible ways of their solution (Table 6.4). 
Table 6.4
Key problems of the Ukrainian HE and possible solutions 
Problems 
Solutions 
- Relatively low competitiveness 
of the national education system. 
- Corruption. 
- Excessive hierarchy and 
bureaucracy. 
- Lack of universities real 
autonomy. 
- Low status and salaries of HEIs 
staff. 
- Outdated teaching and research 
methods not corresponding with 
the market and students‟ needs. 
- Education and teaching 
dominate science and research. 
- The need to comply with 
complicated formal (and not 
necessarily logical) requirements 
of the Ministry of Education and 
Science for the educational 
process. 
- Political will for radical changes, 
especially overcoming corruption. 
- Full autonomy of HEIs. 
- Modernization of curriculum, teaching and 
research methods. 
- Adopting a visionary multidisciplinary / 
interdisciplinary and corporate/cross-
industrial approach to education, promoting 
an education-research-industry synergy. 
- Improving teachers‟ external motivation 
and status. 
- Improving conditions for students and 
teachers to conduct research.
- Introduction of a set of measures to restore 
international reputation of Ukrainian HE. 
- Increasing participation of Ukrainian HEIs 
and individuals in European and world 
educational programs and events. 
Source: developed by the authors
The mentioned problems along with the general political and socio-
economical crisis in Ukraine predetermine educational migration from 
the country while growth of demand for high-quality educational 
services, their vast availability abroad, and harmonization of educational 
standards and reduction of transportation and communication costs 
enable and stimulate [7]. 
Modern waves of migration from Ukraine are young, since the 
decision on migrating abroad is often taken after secondary school 
graduation, when a HEI is being selected for further studies. 

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In total, over 70 thousand of Ukrainians study abroad, including 
around 50 thousand – in European HEIs. The most desirable countries 
for Ukrainian youth are: Great Britain (43%); the United States (38%); 
Germany (33%); Poland (26%); Canada (25%); France (14%); Czech 
Republic (10%); Russia (5%); Spain (5%); Israel (4%); Portugal (2%); 
Greece (2%); Hungary (2%) [4]. Popularity of Great Britain and the 
USA can be explained by the fact that their educational systems are 
most competitive and up to date, they also create best job opportunities 
for the graduates and contribute most to the learning of English and 
inspire considerable interest to their cultures. Poland is also popular. In 
2015, according to the Statistics Department of Poland, there were 20.5 
thousand Ukrainians in Polish HEIs. It should be noted that the data 
includes only students who participated in the programs implying 
international certificates and diplomas, not including those participating 
in internships and semester training programs. 
The following key reasons for educational migration from Ukraine 
can be highlighted: 1) high quality of scientific and technical provision 
in foreign HEIs, 2) practical training programs; 3) possibility of 
internships and employment in foreign companies; 4) possibility to 
improve foreign languages skills; 5) opportunity to travel more with a 
student visa; 6) generally higher level of education with better work 
prospective. 
Main motives for educational migration can be divided into three 
categories: 1) personal growth related; 2) future career factors; 3) 
academic motives [11]. Personal growth motives include learning new 
languages and acquiring new skills, getting acquainted with a different 
country, culture, and new people. Career motives are related to 
prospects 
through 
life 
related 
to 
qualification 
development, 
communication success and appropriate remuneration. Academic 
motives include access to institutions with high level of education, 
research, and improving personal performance in particular fields. 
Many developing countries (e.g. Philippines and India) facilitate 
migration of their citizens abroad for studying. This can be explained by 
the fact that they cannot independently provide adequate level of 
education and are interested in improving the future economic, social 
and cultural development of the population this way. Even in developed 
countries, migration is not considered to be the main factor of the 
economy or human capital deterioration. Young people are looking for 
ways of personal development, finding new friends, cultural learning, 
improving the knowledge of foreign languages – and in many countries 

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310 
of the EU they can find educational opportunities that are free and high-
quality. 
While taking the decision about migrating abroad, people assess 
relative costs and benefits associated with such step. However, 
educational migration is also considered as a type of self-investment. 
Therefore, we can distinguish the following cases/scenarios for young 
people deciding to study abroad: 1) limited possibility of studying at 
home, but high returns from obtained education. After graduation 
students return home; 2) unlimited opportunities for studying at home, 
but low returns from obtained education. After graduation students do 
not return home. 
According to the policy of the European Union students can continue 
working in the foreign countries after completing their studies. In Italy, 
Spain and Hungary, young people can be employed after they were 
educated there, and they should only find an employer and get work 
permission. France and Austria allow their university graduates to stay 
in the country and work for half a year after graduation. Poland and 
Germany provide such an opportunity during a year and a half 
respectively, but the person is obliged to work according to the obtained 
specialty, and the employer must prove that a vacant post for a citizen of 
this country cannot be provided. In spring 2016, the European 
Parliament adopted the directive that obliges all EU member states to 
allow people who have received education there to stay on their territory 
for at least 9 months in order to find a job. 
A number of countries including Austria, Czech Republic, France, 
Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway and Slovakia provide free education 
for Ukrainians. Often the certificate of knowledge of the official 
language of the chosen country is obligatory. 
Another resource that facilitates studying of Ukrainian students 
abroad is the Erasmus+ program, which replaced its previous version 
(Erasmus Mundus) in 2014 [9]. According to the Delegation of the 
European Union to Ukraine data, in 2004-2014 as much as 1800 
Ukrainian students and researchers took part in the program, and since 
2014 – more than 1000 persons already. Ukrainian participants were 
expected to pay only the visa costs, while the costs for travel, studying 
and accommodation were covered by the European funds. It is expected 
that the program will be implemented during 2014-2020 and will cover 
the following main areas: 1) cooperation for the sake of innovation and 
development; 2) academic mobility; 3) policy support in the areas of 
education, training and amateur sport. 

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Unfortunately only a small number of Ukrainian students took part in 
the Erasmus Mundus program comparing for example with the 
neighboring Poland (42 thousand students since 1998). However, due to 
better access to information and opening of borders between countries,