Parliamentary hearings entitled “On the state and legislative support to the development of science and sci-tech sphere of the state” were held in the Verkhovna Rada on July 2, 2014
03 July 2014, 16:23
Parliamentary hearings entitled
“On the state and legislative support to the development of science and
sci-tech sphere of the state” should determine the key tasks for the support of the
scientific branch today. Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Ruslan Koshulynskyi stressed this opening the hearings on Wednesday. R.Koshulynskyi informed that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Science and Education has initiated the hearings. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that lots of specializing committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine showed interest in the theme of the Parliamentary hearings. In particular, the committees on on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations, on Industrial and Investment Policy, on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety and on Social Policy and Labour.
He informed that the people’s deputies of Ukraine, leaders of the Government, representatives of the Presidential Administration and that of the National Defence and Security Council, national academies of sciences, as well as leaders and representatives of sate executive power and bodies of local self-government in the field of science, employees of scientific institutions and higher educational establishments, scientific circles and NGOs were invited to participate in the hearings.
R.Koshulynskyi stated that that for the past twenty years there were almost no orders for scientific research and high technology development.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada analyzed reasons of the crisis in the scientific sector. He noted that this sphere was left behind the state’s attention and that the system of state management in the sci-tech sphere is inefficient.
Minister of Science and Education Serhii Kvit drew attention to the fact that the Law “On Higher Education”, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, allows to talk about three major accomplishments for the development of science in Ukraine.
Firstly, we introduce the third educational cycle – the PhD level.
Secondly, cooperation itself that provides more opportunities for cooperation between universities and our academic institutions.
Thirdly, this law will give an impetus for a different form and preparation to defending theses.
S.Kvit expressed conviction that modern advanced science is a guarantee of Ukraine as a high-tech and democratic European state. He reassured that both the President and the Prime Minister are well aware of science’ significance and, even in such complicated time period, they are ready to take efficient measures to support researches and scientists.
Minister of Science and Education noted that formally Ukraine’s regulatory and legal framework is well developed for scientific and technical activity.
He stressed that science is a complicated and extremely diverse sphere of human activity. Settlement of its problems requires pooling of efforts of a great number of executive bodies, law-makers and the civil society.
Chairperson of the specializing Committee on Science and Education Lilia Hrynevych stressed that reforming of science should be the next step after reforming of higher education.
Commenting on the bill on science and sci-tech activity, she informed that representatives of different groups were involved in elaboration of the document.
Lilia Hrynevych noted that the bill suggests taking specific steps for the development of university science.
It is important that the document stipulates social protection of Ukrainian scientists who are in need of support and decent status in the society.
“Science will secure Ukraine’s competitiveness in the European community. The today’s science is the tomorrow’s technology,” stressed the people’s deputy.
Scientists and experts stressed that national science possesses potential for settling complicated and important tasks in the sphere of defense, medicine, biotechnologies and ecosystems.
However, at present, the system of state governing in the sci-tech sphere is inefficient.
Participants of parliamentary hearings stressed that there are needed specific elaborations and proposals that will further be referred for approval by the Verkhovna Rada and will be taken as a basis of a new legislative base.