“We are losing not only people, but entire cities”: Rector of Zhytomyr Polytechnic tells why young people do not return to the regions
26 September 18:57
OPINION
During the discussion forum of educators and employers “Youth cannot be let go,” the rector of Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University, Viktor Yevdokymov, voiced alarming trends: internal migration of students can cause no less harm than the departure of young people abroad. And the current system of allocating state-funded places only deepens this process.
Most state universities lose students every year. According to the rector, the number of students at many state universities is declining, and only a few are showing growth. “Zhytomyr Polytechnic is one of the exceptions.
“From 2016 to the beginning of the full-scale invasion, we doubled the number of students – from 4 to 9 thousand. This is the result of creating normal conditions for young people,” he emphasized.
The rector emphasized that the increase in the number of applications to Lviv universities is not only a consequence of the reputation of the universities, but also a reflection of the general trend of migration from more dangerous regions.
“Today, Lviv Polytechnic and Ivan Franko University have large flows of students. But we must honestly admit that this is not just about education. It is about security. And if young people leave the region, there is a high probability that they will not return,” said Yevdokymov.
Recor emphasized that universities have the function of a “city-forming magnet.” They form life, business, and infrastructure around them. And if students disappear, the city loses its dynamics.
Read also: Ukraine needs 100 state universities instead of 151, – Mykhailo Vynnytsky
I consider it a success that we managed to keep 10 thousand young people in Zhytomyr. But we should look at the bigger picture. If young people leave, schools, hospitals, and jobs follow. This no longer applies to villages, but to cities such as Brovary, Zhytomyr, Sumy, and Poltava. This is a threatening prospect,” the rector emphasized.
According to the rector, Zhytomyr is already experiencing a shortage of young professionals, particularly in education.
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