06.11.2017
The state of Ukrainian science: opinions of scientists
- According to a survey conducted by Rating Group in September 2017 on behalf of the Ukrainian Partnership Forum among employees of research institutions in Dnipro, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, 64% of respondents said that the situation in Ukrainian science is deteriorating. About 23% described the situation as stable, while only 8% reported an improvement. The most negative assessments were given by Doctors of Science and those with more than 20 years of experience in research.
- Almost half of the surveyed scientists (46%) stated that conditions at their own research institutions are worsening. Thirty percent reported stability and only 18% saw improvements. In this case, deterioration was more often reported by Candidates of Science and those with more than 10 years of scientific experience.
- With regard to the media that cover science and innovation, 41% said the situation is stable, 29% believed it has worsened, and 12% thought it has improved. Again, the most critical views were expressed by Doctors of Science and researchers with more than 20 years of experience.
- Scientists were most optimistic about their own professional development: 40% reported improvement, 37% stability, and only 10% deterioration, while 13% could not assess their situation. Less optimistic views were more common among those with the highest academic degrees and the longest research careers.
- When asked who contributes most to the development of science in Ukraine today, 47% named individual scientists, inventors, and specialists. Research institutes were mentioned by 35%, higher education institutions by 33%, and the National Academy of Sciences by 28%. Only 16% said the Ministry of Education and Science plays this role, and the same share pointed to civil society organizations, foundations, innovation hubs, and coworking centers. Business structures and science-related media were mentioned by 8% each, while general secondary schools by only 4%.
- At the same time, 74% of respondents believe that the Ministry of Education and Science should be the main driver of scientific development in Ukraine, and 65% pointed to the National Academy of Sciences. Research institutes were named by 37%, universities by 28%, business by 14%, and media or civil society organizations by around 9–10%. Only 6% believed that schools or individual scientists and inventors should play this role.
- Two thirds of surveyed scientists (66%) agreed that the state, private sector, and civil society should promote vocational and technical education among young people instead of higher education. Twenty-three percent disagreed, and 11% were undecided. Support for this idea was strongest among Doctors of Science and the most experienced researchers.
- More than half (52%) believe there is demand from international corporations for the work of Ukrainian scientists and inventors, while 32% disagreed. In contrast, a majority believe that domestic businesses and especially state authorities show little demand for Ukrainian scientific developments. Only about one third disagreed with this view. Regarding media and civil society foundations, about a quarter believe such demand exists, while around half believe it does not.
- Looking ahead, 60% of respondents said Ukraine most urgently needs innovation in medicine. Around half also highlighted energy and agriculture, and 46% pointed to electronics, programming, and telecommunications. About one third named aviation and space, the defense industry, and mechanical engineering. Smaller shares pointed to chemicals (22%), metallurgy, heavy industry, and transport (18–19%), and even fewer mentioned automotive manufacturing, construction, light industry, and mining.
- As for scientific fields that should become strategic priorities for Ukraine in the near future, technical sciences (engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, etc.) were named by 75% of respondents. About half identified medical and physical-mathematical sciences as priorities. Biological, agricultural, and chemical sciences were supported by 40–45%. Military sciences were named by 19%, while economics, public administration, and pedagogy were mentioned by 11–13%. Psychology, political science, history, law, philosophy, philology, and arts were mentioned by fewer than 10%.
Methodology
- Respondents: scientists of 35 scientific institutions in 5 cities (Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv).
- Total sample: 1000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- Fieldwork dates: 4-30 September 2017.
The survey conducted on request of the Public Association «Ukrainian Partnership Forum»
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