{
  "id": 14998767,
  "title": "Traditional model of higher education needs to be rethought due to new labor market demands – experts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/traditional-model-of-higher-education-needs-to-be-rethought-due-to",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-16T16:21:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Interfax-Ukraine",
    "slug": "interfax-ukraine",
    "url": "https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/press-conference/1221692.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Experts argue that the conventional model of higher education must be reevaluated due to evolving demands in the labor market. This view was expressed by individuals from various sectors including educational institutions, businesses, and students. Research indicates that 70% of teenagers aged 13-16 have not yet decided on their desired profession, just 3% have internship experience, and 7% have met with career advisers. This highlights the importance of fostering a humanistic culture that encourages holistic development, encompassing education, work, culture, science, moral responsibility, and openness to the world. The goal is to cultivate not only individuals proficient in their chosen professions but also those capable of realizing their full potential and contributing to societal advancement.\n\nMaria Furman, Director of the Business Education Center at the Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship, underscored the necessity of adopting a humanistic and psychosocial approach to education and personal growth. She stressed that while knowledge transfer is fundamental, it is not the sole objective. Universities and colleges work with individuals during their formative years, influencing their self-perception, capabilities, and professional aspirations. The responsibility for this developmental process extends beyond mere professional competence.\n\nTetiana Harets, Director of the Professional College of Management and Psychology, linked communication challenges among teenagers to the ongoing war and the shift to online learning. In response, the institute has implemented programs such as Start Week and Team Challenge, utilizing project-based learning methodologies like EduScrum and Agile, the IPP COIN motivation system, and encouraging students to create a mini-company in the OpenSpace business laboratory. Unlike traditional report cards, which merely list academic grades, the individual student portfolio offers a chronological record of a student's development, highlighting skills such as coordinating actions, decision-making, responding to feedback, and accepting responsibility for collective outcomes.\n\nOleksandr Strukov, Head of Sales at DMNTR media holding company, noted that while companies excel in teaching technical skills, they also expect candidates to possess strong communication abilities and a readiness to grow. He emphasized that leadership potential, personal resource potential, and soft skills are increasingly vital in the job market. Entrepreneur Yurii Skilskyi, a partner in the BOARD community in Kolomyia, advocated for stronger mentorship from businesses, suggesting that entrepreneurs should visit young people more frequently to share their experiences. He urged such visits to be organized so that students can observe the operational aspects firsthand, thus supporting and unlocking the potential of young individuals.\n\nOlha Bondarenko, HR Director of a technology holding company, stressed the need for development, independent thinking, responsibility, and the capacity to create value. In the defense technology sector, where national security might hinge on an employee's decisions, she highlighted that responsibility is honed through practical experience, the ability to make choices, and a clear understanding of consequences, including the value of mistakes as learning opportunities, provided one acknowledges, analyzes, and adapts from them.\n\nTetiana Spivakovska, a candidate of economic sciences and Associate Professor at the Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship, shared that integrating over 30 students from abroad into the Ukrainian education system within a year exemplifies how Ukrainian higher education institutions must adapt to compete in the global educational arena. This involves creating unique educational offerings, ensuring high-quality teaching, fostering international partnerships, and developing modern infrastructure.\n\nNataliia Shumska, Head of the 3S AGENCY recruitment agency, cautioned against relying solely on ready-made answers, advocating for the cultivation of independent thought. She noted that while artificial intelligence can provide vast amounts of information, students risk losing their ability to think independently if solutions are routinely provided. She highlighted that students can now access a significant portion of knowledge independently, yet the danger lies in becoming overly dependent on AI for formulating thoughts, arguments, or conclusions.",
  "summary": "The transition from predominantly theoretical learning to developing independence, responsibility, critical thinking and practical competencies should become one of the priorities in the transformation of Ukrainian education.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}