3. Multilevel structure of higher education

Higher education qualifications combine both academic and professional qualifications. The State Diploma serves as both an academic certificate and a professional license. Job placement in Ukraine is directly related to the professional skills which are determined by the educational and qualification level. The Law on Higher Education (2002) established a three-level structure of higher education in Ukraine: junior university degree, undergraduate education and complete higher education.

1. Junior specialist is the educational and qualification level of a person who obtained junior university education on the basis of secondary school certificate. A junior specialist should have special knowledge and skills relevant to performing production functions of the specified professional activity and can occupy primary positions in specified economic activity. Period of study: 3 to 4 years. The term junior specialist has historically referred to all non-bachelor's degree granting post-secondary schools.

2. A Bachelor of Science is usually an academic degree earned for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts four years, but can range anywhere from three to seven years depending on the region of the world. In some exceptional cases, it may also be the name of a postgraduate degree. A Bachelor’s degree presupposes fundamental and special skills and knowledge about the generalized object of work (professional activity) relevant for performing tasks and duties of specified professional level which correspond with occupying the lowest positions of economic enterprises. A student can obtain a bachelor’s degree on the basis of junior specialist educational and qualification level. Period of training: 4 years which corresponds with 240 ECTS credits.

3. Specialist is the educational and qualification level of a student who completed the full course of higher education (based on Bachelor’s degree training with the period of study – 1 year). A specialist has obtained special skills and knowledge relevant for performing tasks and duties (works) of specified professional level which correspond with occupying basic positions of economic enterprises. Training of a specialist equals 60 ECTS credits.

4. Master of Science the educational and qualification level of a student who completed the full course of higher education (based on Bachelor’s degree training with the period of study – 1 to 1,5 year). Training of a master equals 60-90 ECTS credits. MSc graduate is qualified for performing professional responsibilities and tasks of innovative nature relevant to occupying basic positions of specified economic activity.

1.5. The Bologna Process

The overarching aim of the Bologna Process is to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) based on international cooperation and academic exchange that is attractive to European students and staff as well as to students and staff from other parts of the world.

The envisaged European Higher Education Area will:

• facilitate mobility of students, graduates and higher education staff;

• prepare students for their future careers and for life as active citizens in democratic societies, and support their personal development;

• offer broad access to high-quality higher education, based on democratic principles and academic freedom.

The Bologna Process is named after the Bologna Declaration, which was signed in the Italian city of Bologna on 19 June 1999 by ministers in charge of higher education from 29 European countries. Today, the Process unites 47 countries - all party to the European Cultural Convention and committed to the goals of the European Higher Education Area. An important characteristic of the Bologna Process - and key to its success - is that it also involves European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO-CEPES, as well as representatives of higher education institutions, students, staff, employers and quality assurance agencies.