24 September 2008 
Press release
Kiev

The pilot project Ranking of Higher Education Institutions “Compass” initiated by SCM with support of Rinat Akhmetov's Foundation for Development of Ukraine was presented on 24 September, 2008 in press-center of UNIAN Information Agency.

Compass has been the first national ranking based on the opinion of employers on whether the knowledge and skills of Ukrainian graduates meet the demands of the labour market. The ranking is led by universities providing, according to young specialists and employers, the most practice-oriented education that satisfies the needs of the real economy sector and guarantees strong employment prospects with good salary and career opportunities.

Compass covers higher education institutions of 3-4 accreditation degrees training specialists in: business/economy, law, engineering/technical professions, information technologies (IT) and architecture/construction. The ranking was compiled by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). Partners of the project are the World Bank and BEST Information and Analytical Center.

Ranking compilation methodology was offered for discussion to Ukrainian and international experts that work in education and the labour market. A public expert board for Compass was established to ensure objective nature of the ranking and public control over project realization. The expert board included, in particular, representatives of the World Bank, Confederation of Employers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Academy of Education of Ukraine and Ukrainian Employment Center.

“It was not accidental that SCM Group as the biggest national investor and one of major employers in Ukraine initiated the project. The real sector of economy is suffering from total deficit of specialists. The "hunger for personnel" is getting increasingly acute every year", said Natalia Yemchenko, Director of Public Relations and Communications at SCM. “I believe that Compass will give the chance to school leavers, their parents and students to make an informed choice of the university. At the same time, the employers will see what universities are training
the best professionals they need”.

The project was implemented by SCM under its social investment policy, which is an integral part of corporate social responsibility of SCM. The budget of the pilot project Compass amounted to over $200,000.

Compass presentation revealed names of the universities ranked among Top-5 in the national rating as well as the leaders in five industrial and four regional ratings.

Kiev Shevchenko National University and Kharkov Yaroslav the Wise National Academy of Law led Compass Ranking in 2007-2008 following a poll of 1500 alumni of Ukrainian universities and over 1000 biggest employers in Ukraine.

The second position was shared by the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" and National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy".

The third place was taken by Kiev Vadim Getman National Economic University, Kyiv National University of Internal Affairs, and Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture.

The Top-5 list also covered Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics (4th) and Donetsk National Technical University (5th).

According to Compass, the best universities training business and economy are Kiev Vadim Getman National Economic University and National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" (shared 1st place).

Employers and alumni believe that Kharkov Yaroslav the Wise National Academy of Law provides the top legal education.

The first place by education of engineers and technicians was shared by National Mining University of Ukraine (Dnepropetrovsk) and National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute". Also, the KPI is training the best IT professionals.

As to architecture and construction, the alumni and employers are confident that the Kiev National University of Construction and Architecture is the absolute leader.

Compass Ranking gives a comparative analysis of Ukrainian universities by regions too. So, Lviv Polytechnic National University was called the best higher education institution in western Ukraine (Volyn, Zakarpatye, Ivano-Frankovsk, Lvov, Rovno, Ternopol, Khmelnitskiy, and Chernovtsy regions). Kiev Shevchenko National University leads in the central region (Kiev City, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, Kirovograd, Poltava, Symy, Cherkassy, Chernigov oblasts). The first place in the southern Ukraine (the Crimea, Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozh’ye, Nikolayev, Odessa regions) was taken by Dnepropetrovsk National University (Dnepropetrovsk), whereas in the east, the alumni and employers called Kharkov Yaroslav the Wise National Academy of Law as the best institution.

The results of the pilot project "Compass" as well as the positive assessment of the project by interested parties confirmed that the ranking was developed just on time and is well demanded. 

For this very reason, SCM decided to launch preparation of Compass Ranking 2008-2009. The second Compass will start in November 2008. The results will be published in February-March 2009 and become a real manual for secondary school leavers.

"On the one hand, we want to give information for informed choice to university entrants, their families and students that decided to change university because of some reasons. On the other hand, we seek to help employers and the higher education system to turn faces to each other. And not simply to turn, but to start a dialog”, added Ms Yemchenko.

Compass Ranking results will be published in Segodnya on 26 September, 2008 (abridged version) and in Gvardiya on 29 September, 2008 (full version).

The full version of the rating as well as information about applied methodology will be published on the official website of the project on 26 September, 2008.

For details about Compass Ranking, please visit the official website of the project.

Profile: 

SCM is a professional investor that owns and controls assets in mining and metals, energy-generation, telecommunications, banking, insurance, media as well as in retail and real estate.
SCM Group includes Metinvest Holding, DTEK, Farlep-Invest, Optima-Telecom, Segodnya Multimedia, TRK Ukraina, ESTA Holding, Ukrainskiy Retail, and others. SCM is the biggest investor in Ukraine's economy: Group's development strategy contemplates that investments in 2008-2012 will make not less than UAH 10bn. $. ZAO SCM is 90% owned by businessman Rinat Akhmetov.

Foundation for Development of Ukraine is a non-profit-making organization founded on 15 July, 2005.
The Foundation’s mission it to help lay the basis for the successful and sustainable development of Ukrainian society by investing in the education of future generations, nation’s health, and preservation and development of Ukrainian culture.
The areas of activity include contemporary education, health of the nation, cultural heritage, and targeted assistance.
President of the Foundation for Development of Ukraine is Rinat L. Akhmetov.

Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS)  is one of the leading research companies in Ukraine, which is offering its clients a full scope of research services. KIIS has been operating in Ukrainian and international markets for 15 years and has extensive experience in realization of various projects related to social, socio-political, and socio-economic studies; health care and marking researches; as well as consultations and audit services. President of KIIS - PhD, Professor Khmelko Valerii Evgenevich. General Director of KISS - PhD, Professor Paniotto Vladimir Illich

Compass is a ranking of Ukrainian higher education institutions by the level of satisfaction with education. It is a pilot project initiated and funded by SCM with a support of Rinat Akhmetov's Foundation for Development of Ukraine.  The project targets to find solution to a pressing problem in the higher education system of Ukraine – the lack of information about objective evaluation of efficiency of the Ukrainian education system by its immediate customers (university entrants, their parents, students, and graduates), the public and employers as potential investors.

Press-office
tel: +38 044 502 52 14
fax: +38 044 502 52 15