Ukrainians, despite five years of full-scale war and constant stress, do not lose their desire for self-development. According to the research by Gradus Research and Forbes Ukraine, a significant majority of citizens (81%) believe that lifelong learning is key to career growth and adapting to changes.
This is reported by Finway
Growing Popularity of Self-Education
In the current conditions, education characterized by flexibility and accessibility is in the highest demand. More than 40% of surveyed Ukrainians prefer self-directed learning — through books, educational videos on YouTube, and podcasts. Another 24% of respondents participate in corporate educational initiatives or choose short-term online courses often offered by employers. At the same time, only 10% of citizens value classical formal education and adhere to traditional approaches to learning.
Changing Role of Universities and Popular Learning Directions
The research revealed changes in the perception of the value of university education. Only 25.9% of respondents believe that the main advantage of classical universities is acquiring deep professional knowledge. For 24%, the key motivation for studying at universities remains merely obtaining a formal diploma, while 12% do not see any significant benefit in higher education at all.
“Only a quarter of respondents (25.9%) consider the main advantage of a university to be the acquisition of professional knowledge. At the same time, for 24% of respondents, the university has depreciated to the level of formality – their main goal is simply to obtain a diploma. Another 12% of respondents (one in eight) do not see any substantial value in university education at all.”
Regarding fields of study, Ukrainians most often choose to develop professional skills in their area (33%), education “for the soul” and according to personal interests (30%), mastering digital literacy (26%), and increasing financial awareness (17%). Meanwhile, nearly 23% have not learned new skills recently. The lowest interest in education is observed among people aged 55–60, while youth aged 18–24 remain the most active in acquiring new knowledge.
A national internship program for individuals aged 50 and older called “Experience Matters” has also been launched in Ukraine.