The active work of student organisations within the Ukrainian Quality Assurance Forum (UQAF-2025) confirmed that the formation of a culture of quality is impossible without those for whom education exists. Joint activities of students, teachers, study programme leaders, employers and state institutions create the basis for training specialists capable of developing Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Association of Students (UAS) team held a workshop entitled ‘The Voice of Higher Education Seekers in Quality Improvement: From Participation to Influence’, during which students, representatives of administrations and teachers discussed how to make the student voice not only heard but also effective in the processes of ensuring the quality of education. The discussion allowed students to better understand the challenges faced by teachers and study programme leaders, and allowed academic and teaching staff to see the real needs of the student community.
The Ukrainian Student League (USL) organised a workshop entitled ‘Students as Agents of Internal Change in the Quality of Education in Higher Education Institutions: Student Self-Government Bodies as a Catalyst for Change’. During the event, participants discussed how student self-government bodies can become an effective tool in the development of internal quality assurance systems, promote a culture of responsibility, and initiate positive changes within universities.
The National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance continues to actively cooperate with student organisations. In particular, in cooperation with UAS, the UAS QA POOL programme is being implemented to train student experts in the field of higher education quality assurance, and in cooperation with USL, the ‘Students – Ambassadors of Quality’ project is being implemented to develop student leadership and strengthen their role in shaping a culture of quality.
Thus, UQAF-2025 became a platform for expert discussions and an open space for active student participation, which is why events organised by student associations constituted an important part of the programme.