The introduction of standardized testing for master's studies will affect the quality of legal education and create objective conditions for all participants of the admissions campaign. This was announced by the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Inna Sovsun, during a press conference dedicated to the pilot project on the introduction of an entrance exam for obtaining a master's degree in the specialty "Law" using external independent assessment technologies.
"Legal education is a key element of the reform of judicial and law enforcement systems, which will not have an effective result without reforming legal training," Inna Sovsun said.
The First Deputy Minister emphasized that testing using the technologies of the ZNO will make it possible to solve several tasks. First, to select students to continue their studies at the master's level. Secondly, it will make the selection process transparent. "The second important element is ensuring the transparency of admission to the master's degree in order to protect this process from corrupt elements," the First Deputy Minister emphasized.
The third task is to simplify the admission procedure for both higher education institutions and applicants. An entrant can simultaneously enroll in the specialty "Law" in the master's program of several universities that have volunteered to participate in the pilot project. There are nine such higher educational institutions. Fourth, there will be an approval of standardized testing at the level of university training.
As Inna Sovsun explained, the project on the introduction of entrance exams for the master's degree in law is one of the components of the reform of legal education, which the ministry is working on, along with the development of the standard of legal education and the Concept of reforming legal education in Ukraine. This pilot project is the first step towards the creation of a single exam, the successful passing of which will serve as access to the profession.
The first deputy minister informed that in order to participate in the testing using the technologies of the external examination for the master's degree, the applicant submits documents to the admission commissions. You should find out about the deadlines for accepting documents at the university. An entrant in the admissions committee must receive an examination sheet and come to the specified testing point. Testing will take place on July 23 at 10 a.m. The exam itself will consist of several blocks - "Law" and "English". The block on law will contain tests on legal disciplines and general legal competences. If the applicant cannot take the tests due to his health, he will take the entrance exams. "Entrants who did not study English, but other foreign languages, will also take the entrance exam at a higher educational institution," said Inna Sovsun.
It should be noted that nine higher educational institutions participate in the project. Among them are Open International University of Human Development "Ukraine", Kyiv National University named after Taras Shevchenko, Lviv National University, "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", National University "Odesa Law Academy", National University of Law named after Yaroslav the Wise, Odesa National Maritime University, Yuri Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University.
The project is supported by donor organizations: USAID Project "Fair Justice"; Coordinator of OSCE projects in Ukraine. These organizations help coordinate the implementation of the project, organize trainings on the basics of testology for members of working groups.
