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TNMU Contributes to Fostering a Quality Culture in Higher Education

On 21 July 2026, Liudmyla Trushchenkova, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management and Guarantor of the Educational and Professional Program Management of Healthcare Institutions, participated in the International Seminar “Quality Without Borders: Internationalization and Cross-Border Quality Assurance in Higher Education.” The event was organized by the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAQA) in partnership with Uzhhorod National University, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary.

The seminar brought together government officials, diplomats, heads of leading European quality assurance agencies, and representatives of the academic community. Discussions focused on the key aspects and challenges of internationalizing higher education, the impact of international cooperation on the quality and competitiveness of academic programs, and effective tools for strengthening internal quality assurance systems at Ukrainian higher education institutions.

In his opening address, Andrii Butenko, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, stated:

“Together with Ukrainian universities and our European partners, we discussed how to ensure that Ukrainian degrees are recognized equally in Ukraine and across Europe. For students, this means a tangible opportunity to begin their studies at a European university and continue them in Ukraine, or vice versa. It also means being able to find employment in their profession without repeatedly proving the value of their education. For universities, it opens the door to developing joint educational programs with international partners, particularly in border regions.”

For the first time, Daniela Cristina Gîțulică, President of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), and Péter Levente Lakatos, Member of the ENQA Board, visited Ukraine in person. They also lead the quality assurance agencies of Romania (ARACIS) and Hungary (MAB), respectively. Their wartime visit sends a strong message that Ukraine is recognized as an integral part of the European academic community.

The National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance is currently leading this work in Ukraine. It is undergoing an external evaluation by ENQA and the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR)—effectively an assessment of its compliance with European quality standards. Successfully completing this evaluation will bring Ukraine’s higher education system significantly closer to full integration into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

Among the seminar speakers were:

  • Anatolii Melnychenko, Rector of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute;
  • Taras Finikov, President of the International Foundation for Education Policy Research;
  • Svitlana Shytikova, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine;
  • Zhanna Talanova, Deputy Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine;
  • Olena Knysh, Leading Specialist of the Analytical and Training Support Department of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance.

Particular attention was drawn to Robert Bacho’s presentation, Head of the Department of Accounting and Auditing at Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education, who shared several critical observations on accreditation procedures.

The keynote speakers of the seminar were Péter Levente Lakatos, Member of the ENQA Board and Director General of the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB), and Daniela Cristina Gîțulică, President of ENQA and Director General of the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS).

The joint efforts of the National Agency, European partners, and the academic community are creating new opportunities for Ukrainian higher education institutions, enabling their confident integration into the unified European Higher Education Area.

During his presentation, Taras Finikov shared his vision of institutional accreditation for higher education institutions in Ukraine. He outlined the key criteria that should underpin institutional accreditation, highlighted successful practices from several countries that Ukraine could adopt, and explained the main stages of the international accreditation process.

We express our sincere gratitude to the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance for its openness to dialogue and for creating opportunities that promote the development and integration of Ukrainian universities into the European academic community. We also extend our appreciation to all the seminar speakers for their inspiring presentations, insightful analyses, and willingness to share their expertise, which provided valuable ideas for improving educational practices.

I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University highly values opportunities for professional development and international cooperation. Events such as this play a crucial role in shaping the strategic vision for the future of Ukrainian higher education and enhancing its competitiveness in the global academic landscape.