Education reform at heart of UK-Ukraine partnership

A new agreement between the British Council and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MoES) is set to boost higher education in Ukraine, foster partnerships between educational institutions, increase exchange experiences, and enhance English language learning opportunities.

The agreement will further develop cooperation across three priorities: English language development, school collaboration and reform, and higher education reform throughout Ukraine.

The partnership is built upon the British Council’s long-standing collaboration with MoES, while adapting to current challenges facing Ukraine’s education system posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It outlines a comprehensive framework for cooperation between educational institutions and government agencies in both countries.

The agreement continues the British Council’s focus on English language learning in Ukraine, supporting the teaching and learning of English in educational institutions, and focusing on teachers’ continuing professional development through blended teacher training, developing communities of practice and provision of digital resources in cooperation with educational institutions.

The partnership also aims to promote the appropriate recognition within Ukraine of UK qualifications and examinations by focusing on the harmonisation of national qualifications frameworks between Ukraine and the UK.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by British Council chief executive Scott McDonald and Ukraine’s minister of education, Oksen Lisovyi, at Education World Forum in London this week as part of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership program, building on the existing cooperation between the participants in the field of education and science.

“The need to support Ukraine’s education sector is clear. The war has damaged the country’s infrastructure, putting the right to education of millions of young people at stake,” said McDonald.

“The UK government recently committed to ‘An Unbreakable 100 Year Partnership’ with Ukraine, signifying the breadth and depth of relationships between our countries. The British Council has worked in Ukraine for the past 30 years and we will remain alongside them whatever it takes.”

We believe it’s more important than ever to build positive connections, mutual understanding, and trust between people, which we have continued to do throughout the war
_{Scott McDonald, British Council}

Both the MoES and the British Council will cooperate with Ukraine and UK educational institutions to achieve the objectives of the partnership, aiming to promote the development of direct partnerships between educational institutions in the UK and Ukraine.

Lisovyi commented: “A strong education system is a point of connection for strategic partnership, cultural exchange, and the building of sustainable international ties. In these challenging times, we especially value cooperation that is built on trust, consistency, and a shared vision for the future.

“The signing of the memorandum with the British Council is a significant step toward developing a systemic and long-term partnership that has already delivered tangible results and opens up new opportunities for Ukrainian teachers, children, and the entire education community. We are committed to continuing this progress,” he continued.

Colm McGivern, Director Ukraine at British Council, added, “The impact of this work will be felt in classrooms and lecture halls across Ukraine, with a focus on professional development for teachers, leadership in Universities and expanding the support we offer to the Government of Ukraine as they drive forward their ambitions for a surge in the learning of English.” McGivern said, “Schools and Universities in Ukraine operate daily against the backdrop of continued Russian aggression, attacks, and terror, and do so without fatigue because they believe in the power of education for open and inclusive democratic societies. At the British Council Ukraine we are proud to support them – and do so with the highest endorsement from Minister Lisovyi and his team.”

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