Academic Science in Ukraine as a Component of the Nation’s Culture and Democratic Future: Reflections on a Painful Issue

Abstract

The article is based on the author’s familiarization with two legislative and regulatory documents prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) of Ukraine, which outline the prospects of domestic academic science on the way to European integration. In particular, these are the draft laws: 1) “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On scientific and scientific and technical activities” regarding the establishment of target indicators of the activity of heads of scientific institutions, determination of strategies and prospective directions of activity of scientific institutions”; 2) “About the system of priority areas of scientific, scientific-technical and innovative activity in Ukraine”. In the author’s opinion, these draft laws will fail to ensure an effective achievement of the desired results of the innovative activity of domestic science, primarily academic science.  These new laws can negatively affect any legal incentives. Мost importantly, these new laws can undermine the prestige of talented Ukrainians, who have devoted their lives to science, selflessly working in the scientific field not only to ensure defense capability and food security, but also to affirm the national idea and statehood of the country. In order to avoid misunderstandings and correct the situation, a number of concrete measures are proposed that should be taken into account when accepting the final result to decide the further democratic future of academic science in Ukraine, taking into account the European standards of its functioning.