Quality Assurance System in Education for Future Specialists in Special Education in Ukraine

The article is devoted to the study of the features of the quality assurance system in education for future specialists in special education at the first (bachelor’s) and second (master’s) levels of higher education in Ukraine. Based on the analysis of modern Ukrainian research, it was determined that theoretical methodological and conceptual approaches to the study and development of this problem are still leading in Ukraine. To date, no comprehensive, practice-oriented research has been presented that would illustrate or analyse specific ways to ensure/improve the quality of training for special education professionals. Unlike Ukrainian studies, foreign studies offer specific, practice-oriented approaches to the quality assurance system in education for future specialists in special/inclusive education. Two criteria were used to conduct the study: the availability of accreditation from the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (evidence of the quality of educational and methodological support, staffing, etc. in accordance with the criteria of the accreditation examination) and the attractiveness of the educational program (volume of applications submitted, number of enrolled applicants, etc. according to the data of the 2023 admission campaign, compared to the same indicators in 2024 in Ukraine). It was established that at the first (bachelor’s) level of higher education, 18 (33 %) of 54 educational programs have accreditation from the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, 1 of them has accreditation with the definition of “exemplary”, 26 educational programs (48 % ) have accreditation from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 6 have the status of “conditional (delayed) accreditation” and 8 (14 %) educational programs have the status of “not accredited”. As for the second (master’s) level of higher education, out of 55 educational programs, 26 (47 %) are accredited by National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, 2 are accredited by the definition of “exemplary”, 20 educational programs (36 %) are accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 6 educational programs (10 %) have conditional (delayed) accreditation and 4 educational programs (7 %) are not accredited. According to the second criterion, it was established: applicants gave preference when submitting applications to the leading institutions of Ukraine in Lviv and Kyiv. Also, preference for submitting applications was given to universities of Ukraine located in the west of the country, which is natural within the framework of security conditions. In 2024, applicants mainly chose accredited educational programs, but not all universities have it from National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education — 4 HEIs have educational programs accredited by National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, 2 are accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 3 are conditional (delayed) accreditations, 1 is not accredited. At the second (master’s) level of higher education in the specialty 016 Special Education, the choice of HEIs is mainly regional, in addition, most educational programs are accredited by National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. A sharp increase in applicants was established in 2024. In general, the number of applications submitted in Ukraine increased by 34 % compared to 2023, and the number of applicants who entered the second (master’s) level of higher education also increased by 18 %