Ukraine joined TEMPUS in 1993 році. At that period the program focused on improvements of university governance and management, upgrading old curricula and developing new course and programs, professional development of teachers, especially in the such disciplines as economics, foreign languages, social science, European studies and law.

Ukrainian higher education institutions actively participated in the TEMPUS program from the very beginning.  Therefore, it is only reasonable that currently TEMPUS projects are being implemented in most regions of Ukraine. Over that period, Ukrainian universities have demonstrated their commitment to reforms and strong dedication to the development of higher education, introduction of innovative approaches and state-of-the-art technologies in the educational field.

During the third phase of TEMPUS program in 2000-2006 the shift occurred to new priorities and new disciplines came into the focus of the program. Ukraine’s participation in TEMPUS III program coincided with its aspirations to join the European Higher Education Area in line with Bologna process, which was reflected in the projects. As to the list of priority disciplines for that period of time, it included in addition to economics and business management, agrarian science, ICT and environment.  

Starting from 2000, participation in the TEMPUS projects is broadened beyond higher education institutions and is opened to companies, non-governmental and non-for-profit organizations, authorities.   Accordingly, among participants of the TEMPUS projects in Ukraine, we can find the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine,  Ministries of Education and Science, Environmental Protection, Agricultural Policy, regional state administrations, municipalities, entrepreneurs’ associations and students’ unions,   agricultural companies, ports and research institutes.

Currently, the priorities and directions of the TEMPUS program in Ukraine are directly linked to the advancement of the Bologna process. 

As a consequence of TEMPUS projects, new courses and curricula were developed that meet the current requirements of Ukrainian labour market. University teachers confirm that cooperation with European colleagues within the TEMPUS project enabled them to obtain new knowledge, master new teaching skills and evaluation techniques, which resulted in greater competitiveness of their universities, improved their status and standing.    

On the whole, the TEMPUS program facilitated internationalization of Ukrainian universities, helped to establish long-term partnerships between them and their European counterparts that did not stop after project completion, and assisted with initiation of new research projects or exchange programs. On many occasions, TEMPUS projects helped to set up a dialogue between higher education institutions and Ministry of Education and Science or its regional branches; between faculty and administration; between employers, teachers and students.   

Not all Ukrainian universities have implemented Bologna principles and transferred to a three-cycle education system.  But those universities where changes have taken place and whose curricula fully meet the requirements of Bologna process link their progress and success to TEMPUS projects participation.  

1st call for proposals Tempus IV project with Ukrainian HEI participation: 12 projects JP (Joint Projects) have been implementing since February 2009. Tempus IV projects list with partners from Ukraine.