The Ukrainian Quality Assurance Forum (UQAF–2025) has officially opened at Lutsk National Technical University. Organised by the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance in cooperation with LNTU, the Forum marks an important milestone in advancing the national dialogue on educational standards.
This large-scale event has brought together up to 1,000 participants from nearly 200 Ukrainian and international educational institutions. Among them are rectors and vice-rectors of leading universities, representatives of ministries, and local and regional authorities. LNTU has become a modern venue and an open hub for meaningful discussions on the future of higher education quality.
Andrii Butenko, Head of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, moderated the Forum's opening day.
"We want the entire country to see, through the example of Lutsk National Technical University, how change is possible. This Forum must unite faculty, students, and employers because education cannot exist in a vacuum – it must listen to its stakeholders. The Forum is a space for dialogue and finding new solutions. Many ideas are born during panel discussions or workshops; just as many emerge through informal conversations. After years of restrictions caused by the pandemic and the war, we need more opportunities to meet, share experiences, and make Ukrainian higher education better," he emphasised.
The official opening of the Forum was marked by welcoming remarks from the event's organizers and partners, including: Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk; Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Mykola Trofymenko; President of ENQA Douglas Blackstock; Director of EQAR Aleksandar Šušnjar; President of CEENQA Vesna Dodiković-Jurković; State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Inna Yashchuk; Chief Executive Officer of INQAAHE Fabrice Henard; Head of the State Service of Education Quality Ruslan Hurak; Chairman of the Volyn Regional Council Hryhorii Nedopad; and ENQA Board Member, Director of the Estonian Quality Agency for Education (HAKA) Heli Mattisen.
LNTU Rector Iryna Vakhovych emphasised the importance of such platforms for the development of education and science, especially in times of war:
"We are proud that LNTU has become the place uniting educators from across Ukraine. I hope that our colleagues will appreciate the work we have done over the past few years and that we will be able to inspire them. Today, Ukrainian universities operate under very different conditions, so it is vital to seek common solutions that will help us preserve and develop our youth, create modern spaces, and ensure quality conditions for building a successful future. We are grateful to God and to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the opportunity to gather here in Lutsk," she stressed.
A series of thematic sessions and presentations followed the opening ceremony. Speakers explored the development of quality assurance systems in education, modern approaches to the accreditation of study programs, and innovative methods of assessing learning outcomes. Each session was accompanied by lively discussions and opportunities for participants to pose questions directly to the experts.
Particular attention was drawn to panel discussions featuring leading specialists and university representatives. These sessions focused on practical cases of implementing quality standards and the challenges and achievements of Ukrainian higher education institutions.
The day also featured thematic master classes and workshops, where participants gained practical skills in building internal quality assurance systems, preparing for accreditation visits, and effectively integrating innovations into the educational process.
The first day of the Forum concluded with a summary session, during which the organisers highlighted the active engagement of all participants and expressed their hopes for fruitful work on the following day, which was filled with new discussions, sessions, and professional networking opportunities.
Lutsk National Technical University extends its gratitude to the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance for its leadership and strategic approach to advancing the quality of education in Ukraine.
