BUILDING THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY OF MECHANISMS FOR SYNCHRONIZING UKRAINE’S HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY PUBLIC POLICY WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS

Abstract

The article analyses the processes of building institutional capacity of the mechanisms for synchronising Ukraine's public policy on higher education quality assurance with the standards of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The study covers the period of transformation of the Ukrainian higher education system occurring against the backdrop of the complex challenges posed by the legal regime of martial law, global digitalisation, and the intensification of European integration processes. The purpose of the study is to conceptualise the transition to a multilevel public policy in the field of higher education quality, to identify the impact of shocks on the quality assurance system, and to outline the strategic priorities for the institutional integration of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAQA) into European structures (ENQA, EQAR). The research methodology is grounded in systemic, institutional, and comparative analysis, which enabled examination of the evolution of the regulatory and legal framework, the activities of NAQA, and key European institutions. The findings indicate that, despite the challenges caused by full-scale Russian armed aggression, reduced funding, and the mass displacement of educational process participants, Ukraine demonstrates a high level of institutional adaptability. The introduction of innovative digital assessment tools, the implementation of post-accreditation monitoring, and institutional accreditation confirm the maturity of the national system. Further synchronisation of the domestic educational space requires proactive adaptation to the draft revised ESG 2027 standards, the development of internal quality assurance systems, and the expansion of international cooperation through European university alliances and joint educational programmes.