THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND UKRAINE: COOPERATION IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

Abstract

The cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the sphere of education and science in the framework of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (signed in 2014) is characterized. The political and legal aspects of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the sphere of education and science at present time and in the context of the implementation of the provisions of the new agreement are analyzed. The prospects of involvement of our country to the European Education Area in the context of Ukraine’s participation in the Bologna process are investigated. The educational programs financed from the budget of the European Commission are aimed at the support providing to the partner countries in reforming higher education according to the principles of the Bologna process. In May 2005 our country signed the Bologna Declaration and become an active participant in these processes. The importance of the study of the educational policy of the EU is also determined by the immediate proximity of Ukraine and the EU and increasing interest in Ukrainian society to the opportunities and prospects of Ukraine’s European aspirations at this stage and the positive dynamics of cooperation in education and prospects for implementation of the Bologna process in Ukraine. The last EU enlargement has created a completely new situation on the European continent and brought Ukraine directly to the EU borders, which affects both the relations between Ukraine and the EU, and the development of Ukraine in general. Within the EU educational policy and the EU external assistance programs, the EU is implementing several activities in education, which supplement internal EU programs. Particular attention is paid to the higher education system, which plays a key role in the development of modern society, contributing to the social, cultural and economic development, promoting the pan-ethical and cultural values and preparing the future leaders. Ukraine is also an active member of the European educational programs and projects, including: Tempus, Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window, Erasmus Mundus and Jean Monnet Programme. Since 2014 the EU has introduced new programs in education and science such as educational program Erasmus +, uniting all the above-mentioned programs under one roof for the period 2014- 2020, which supports projects, partnerships, events and mobility in education, training, youth and sport, as well as research program Horizon 2020. The concepts, implementation mechanisms of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the spheres of education and research in the context of the Association Agreement and on the basis of prospects of Ukraine’s participation in these new European programs are described. Thus, besides the actual European integration in education, through the education system the awareness of the broadest ranges of Ukrainian citizenship need of the fullest possible realization of general strategic course of Ukraine’s integration into European and international structures to protect its national interests and realization of spiritual and intellectual potential of the Ukrainian people to benefit of present and future generations can be actively generated. Key words: European Union (EU), the educational policy of the EU, the European educational area, Ukraine, EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Erasmus+, Horison 2020.