Ukrainian universities face closure or merger due to shortage of applicants

The rector of V. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Tatyana Kaganovska, has warned that the declining number of applicants in Ukraine will eventually lead to the closure or merger of some universities.

She made the statement in a media interview.

According to Kaganovska, the current number of children in lower grades already indicates that universities will face serious difficulties within the next 5–10 years.

“Those who have a strong value framework, powerful academic schools, a solid faculty, and a team that works as one organism have a chance of surviving,” Kaganovska said.

A shortage of applicants in Ukraine had previously been noted by an associate professor at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University.

It was also previously reported that Ukrainian high school students are switching to distance learning and leaving the country to avoid mobilization.