Aspekti Publìčnogo Upravlìnnâ (Feb 2015)
Increasing academic mobility as a strategic task of the state governance politics in the educational area
Abstract
Implementation of standards, recommendations and instruments which help to form terms and degrees comparative with ones existing in the European countries is an essential task of Bologna reform in the system of education in Ukraine. Modernization of the organization mechanism is an up-to-date issue, which is reflected in the Law of Ukraine «About Education» and the most important strategic documents of Ukraine. The principal aim is to increase academic mobility and, with the help of it, increase the mobility of workforce on the European labour market. The article provides the analysis of the main documents regulating the issue of academic mobility and elicits the weak points they contain, which include lack of holistic approach, aims and terms, sources and terms of financing. The author gives the definition of academic mobility, identifies its types (inward and outward), and aims. The article studies the impact of academic mobility on the economy of the host country and on the quality of higher education, which justifies the necessity to improve and implement the mechanisms to enhance academic mobility, both inward and outward. The author gives recommendations as for how academic mobility can be enhanced. Firstly, it is recommended that state information centers should be organized to provide students and academic staff with information on options for studying and scientific work abroad. Secondly, improving instruments of mutual recognition is important. Thirdly, financial stimuli, the system of crediting play a great part. Alongside it, creation of the English language environment, delivering certain courses in English as well as intensive foreign language studying are helpful. Another suggestion is stimulating outward mobility with the view of geopolitical interests of the country. It is noteworthy, that setting concrete indicators for inward and outward mobility and identifying the amount of time for a mobile student sufficient to reach the purpose of the mobility will make the experience more useful. Finally, transporting a programme abroad and granting universities the right to set their own prices on educational services are regarded by the author effective tolls for increasing inward academic mobility.
