On 19 August 2026, representatives of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education visited National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute». The delegation to Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute included the Chair of the National Agency, Nataliia Stukalo; the Deputy Chair, Ivan Nazarov; and the Head of the Department of Public Relations and International Cooperation, Maksym Folomeyev. The delegation was welcomed by Galyna Tymchenko, Acting Rector of NTU «KhPI», along with the vice-rectors and heads of the university’s departments. The guests were shown the infrastructure and the educational and research facilities at NTU «KhPI»: the German Education Centre, the Scientific and Technical Library, the cyber range, and they also visited one of Kharkiv Polytechnic’s shelters.
During the meeting, participants discussed current issues relating to quality assurance in higher education, academic integrity and modern approaches to improving educational programmes. Particular attention was paid to the specifics of the accreditation of educational programmes, notably those at the third (educational and research) level, as well as to the integration of accreditation procedures directly into the educational process. Galyna Tymchenko, Acting Rector of NTU «KhPI», introduced members of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAHEQA) to the university’s educational environment, modern learning spaces and approaches to organising the educational process. She emphasised the importance of combining academic training, practical learning, the educational component and the creation of a safe environment for studying. The First Vice-Rector of NTU «KhPI», Professor Ruslan Mygushchenko, focused on the importance of creating a university environment in which students receive not only high-quality knowledge but also opportunities for all-round development, professional growth and the realisation of their own potential.
«We strive to combine a modern educational process, practical training and the values of academic culture, which form the basis of high-quality higher education,» said Ruslan Mygushchenko. Nataliia Stukalo, Chair of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAHEQA), highlighted the importance of the experience of Kharkiv’s universities, which continue to ensure the quality of education despite the challenges posed by the war. According to her, accreditation remains a mandatory procedure for higher education institutions, particularly those operating in frontline regions. At the same time, the assessment must take into account the impact of the war on universities’ ability to meet certain criteria. «The National Agency is working on amendments to the legislation to clearly define micro-credentials and professional retraining programmes, with a view to integrating them into the overall system of quality assurance in education. We express our full support for the universities in Kharkiv, which are operating under challenging security conditions, and we aim to study your experience so that it can be shared with other higher education institutions,» said Nataliia Stukalo.
The meeting participants paid particular attention to academic integrity as one of the key components of high-quality higher education. Representatives of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAHEQA) emphasised the importance of fostering a culture of quality within the university environment, the responsibility of all those involved in the educational process, and the continuous improvement of internal quality assurance mechanisms. Discussions also centred on student-centred learning, students’ right to choose and to shape their own individual educational pathways. Particular attention was paid to the accreditation of third-level educational and research programmes, the application of assessment criteria for educational programmes, and the transformation of expert procedures based on the principles of mutual trust. During the visit, representatives of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAHEQA) familiarised themselves with the infrastructure and the educational and research capabilities of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» (NTU «KhPI»). Denys Meshkov, Director of the German Education Centre, spoke about its activities, whilst Serhii Yevseiev, Head of the Department of Cyber Security, discussed the work of the cyber range. The guests showed particular interest in the presentation on the Start-up Centre «Spark», delivered by its director, Professor Nataliia Shmatko. The guests were also shown the Scientific and Technical Library, whose activities were presented by its director, Yuliia Glavcheva. Members of the National Agency also visited one of Kharkiv Polytechnic’s shelters, where career guidance sessions and festive events are held. Following the meeting, the parties emphasised the importance of open cooperation and the exchange of experience for the further development of internal quality assurance systems, the improvement of educational programmes and the strengthening of a culture of quality in higher education institutions.
Note:
The National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAHEQA) is a permanent collegial body authorised to implement state policy in the field of quality assurance in higher education.