The Ukrainian Central Union of Consumer Societies (Ukrkoopspilka) plays an important role in the organization and development of the education system in Ukraine. Its activities in the field of education are aimed at ensuring high-quality training of specialists working in the field of consumer cooperation and other key sectors of the economy. Cooperative education in Ukraine is a component of the overall national educational system.
The system of cooperative education includes educational institutions, among which the leading ones are Lviv University of Trade and Economics, Poltava University of Economics and Trade, Vinnytsia Cooperative and Khmelnytskyi Cooperative Trade and Economic Institutes. These institutions have a long history and scientific traditions. An important feature of these educational institutions is their ability to combine classical pedagogy with innovative teaching methods, which allows them to successfully adapt educational processes to a rapidly changing world.
The cooperative education system covers both vocational pre-university education and higher education. The 18 colleges operating within the Ukrkoopspilka system provide professional junior Bachelor’s degrees, while universities and institutes provide Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Each of the educational institutions has its own traditions, methodologies, educational and professional programs that meet the modern requirements of the labor market and economic development.
Educational institutions operating within the cooperative education system offer a wide range of specialties: Philology, Economics, International Relations, Journalism, Accounting and Taxation, Finance, Banking, Insurance and Stock Market, Management, Marketing, Trade, Law, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Food Technology, Hotel and Restaurant Management and Catering, Tourism and Recreation.
The high level of the educational process in cooperative educational institutions is ensured by highly qualified teaching staff who are actively working to improve the quality of education and research. An important aspect of research and development is the development of new methods and approaches to teaching, as well as updating theoretical knowledge in accordance with the needs of the modern economy.
Universities have specialized academic councils for defending dissertations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science, and postgraduate and doctoral programs are also effective.
There is an advisory body, the Council of Rectors and Directors of Higher and Professional Pre-Higher Education Institutions of Consumer Cooperation of Ukraine, which promotes the implementation of state policy in the field of education, taking into account the regional characteristics and needs of consumer cooperation in Ukraine.
One of the important aspects of the activities of cooperative educational institutions is the organization of educational and methodological work, which is coordinated by the Ukooposvita Training and Methodological Center. The Center ensures the development and implementation of educational and professional programs and educational and methodological literature that meet the Licensing Requirements for conducting educational activities at the level of professional pre-higher education and are necessary for the accreditation examination of educational and professional programs for the training of professional junior bachelors in cooperative colleges. These programs are evaluated by the State Education Quality Service of Ukraine. The Center’s employees are actively involved in the development of draft regulations as part of the implementation of the Law of Ukraine “On Professional Pre-Higher Education.”
Teachers of the cooperative colleges and the center’s staff are members of subcommittees of the Scientific and Methodological Commission on Business and Administration of the Professional Pre-Higher Education Sector of the Scientific and Methodological Council of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The main task of these subcommittees is to develop standards for the training of professional junior bachelors based on a competency-based approach.
The system of international cooperation is another important component of the development of cooperative education in Ukraine. Consumer cooperation universities are actively implementing international projects and programs that enable students and faculty to study or undertake internships at leading universities in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Poland, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Croatia, the United States, and other countries. Such programs contribute not only to deepening knowledge but also to the development of international relations in the field of cooperative movement and education.
Students’ research activities are also stimulated through participation in student competitions and scientific and practical conferences organized at cooperative educational institutions. These events promote the development of creative and analytical skills and allow students to deepen their knowledge in their chosen fields. Competitions for the best research papers are an additional incentive for the development of research activities among students, allowing them to demonstrate their scientific achievements.
Graduates of consumer cooperative education institutions in Ukraine are in high demand on the labor market. Their highly qualified training allows them to successfully start a career in various sectors of the economy, including trade, finance, accounting and management. The high level of training of graduates is confirmed by their ability to effectively apply the acquired knowledge and skills in a dynamic business environment, as well as by their rapid career growth.
In general, the educational activities of Ukrkoopspilka contribute to the development of highly qualified specialists capable of working effectively in the modern economy. Due to the combination of traditional and innovative approaches to education, research and active international cooperation, the system of cooperative education in Ukraine is an important factor in economic development and successful integration into the global educational and economic community.
