General description of the institution (including type and status)

The National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is a state educational institution with the 4th level of accreditation.

The National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is a recognized leader of the innovative reforms in Ukraine’s higher education. It combines the experience of the leading educational institutions of the West, the latest changes in the European academic environment, and the historical achievements of Kyiv Mohyla Academy – the first Eastern European higher educational institution, with its academic traditions reaching four centuries into the past.

The official restoration of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy as a modern university began as soon as Ukraine received its independence. On September 19, 1991, according to the decree signed by the Chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Kyiv Mohyla Academy was restored on its historic territory in Kyiv as an independent Ukrainian institution of higher education – University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. In September of 1992, first students were admitted. The curricula and syllabi of UKMA were approved at a special conference by UNESCO experts (May 22-23, 1993). In 1994, UKMA received the status of a National University.

Currently, NaUKMA is a reputable university known both in Ukraine and abroad. Its faculty seek to use innovative educational technologies, employ transparent and honest admission procedures, involve the best professors and teachers, develop academic infrastructure and facilities, consistently affirm the sovereign state-level approach in all areas of activity, and restore long-lasting traditions of the old Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. All these principles make up the strong foundation of the University that promotes intellect, integrity, patriotism and openness to the world.

At NaUKMA, state-of-the-art education is rooted in creative personalized studies and research based on the needs of society which, in turn, are determined by the advances in the Ukrainian state, science, economy, and culture, as well as the global processes of human development.

NaUKMA was the first university in Ukraine to implement:

• A unique competitive admission process which has rendered any corruption impossible and, until recently, had no equivalents in Ukraine – a 1-day entrance exam, namely, a comprehensive test in seven subjects, with transparent evaluation (since 1992);
• An admission procedure that allows to apply to two departments simultaneously (since 2005);
• Bachelor degree program (since 1992);
• Two-year Master degree program (since 1996);
• Western-style PhD programs (since 2008), in the first Ukrainian four-year Doctoral School;
• Three-level educational system: Baccalaureate, Magistrate, Doctorate (since 1992);
• PhD program compliant with European standards (since 2008);
• Its own distinctive “NaUKMA Diploma”;
• Unique schools and programs, developed jointly with leading Western universities: School of Social Work, School of Ecology, Public Health School, Business School, School of Journalism;
• Elements of Liberal Arts Education (since 1992), such as:
  • Student’s ability to choose their own curriculum;
  • An opportunity to choose major and minor fields of study;
  • A wide choice of elective courses and certificate programs;
  • A chance to apply to a Master program in a field different from the field studied within the Bachelor program;
  • 100-point cumulative evaluation system of students’ learning (1992);

NaUKMA presents 37 academic specialties in “aspirantura” and 14 in “doctorantura” (traditional post-graduate programs); it has 6 departments, 16 programs for undergraduate students and 23 programs for graduate students, 34 research centers and laboratories, Kyiv-Mohyla Business School (KMBS) and Doctoral School (providing Western-style PhD programs), Center for Training of Prospective Applicants.

Teaching is combined with research; high-priority scholarly work is reflected in new courses and programs developed by the University staff. Some courses are taught by visiting foreign professors. Apart from the two working languages at NaUKMA, Ukrainian and English, students can learn various foreign languages. The Research Library of NaUKMA contains a huge collection of research works, textbooks, reference books, periodicals, electronic resources in various fields of study; it provides access to numerous electronic editions from all over the world
(www.library.ukma.kiev.ua).

Since 1992, NaUKMA and its units have signed and carried out over 200 agreements with foreign universities and institutions. NaUKMA is a full-fledged member of the European University Association (EUA) and the European Association for University Lifelong Learning (EUCEN). In 2005, NaUKMA signed the Great University Charter that affirms and promotes the fundamental principles of university learning: self-governance, unity of teaching and research, freedom in teaching and research.

NaUKMA stresses the importance of universities’ autonomy for further development of Ukraine’s educational system. Autonomy is always accompanied by a fundamentally different level of responsibility to the society. For this reason, ever since 1996 graduates of NaUKMA have received not only the state diplomas, but also “NaUKMA Diplomas”. A state diploma certifies that its holder has mastered a respective educational program, in line with state-recognized standards, whereas NaUKMA Diploma functions as a reference. It testifies not only to the holder’s knowledge, but also to his or her active role in the life of the University and society, to sharing the values of Alma Mater. More and more employers, as well as Western educational institutions, recognize NaUKMA Diplomas.

NaUKMA has 10 academic buildings, the Research Library, the IT center, the publishing center, and the Center for Culture and Arts. A unique architectural complex of XVII-XIX centuries, comprising 11 buildings, stands on the territory of NaUKMA; its historical significance has been recognized by the state. An important task of NaUKMA is to preserve this heritage for future generations and to use it wisely in the academic process and social life.