This year, applicants most often chose management, despite the fact that this specialty has remained one of the most oversaturated in the labor market for many years.
In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, former Deputy Minister of Education Mykhailo Vinnytskyi explained that besides management, other traditionally popular fields - law, marketing, and philology - are also in high demand, where employment in the specialty is extremely difficult.
Management received only 500 budget places across the country and remains the leader in the number of applications. Among the ten most popular fields, psychology, computer science, pedagogical education, and medicine also made the list. Vinnytskyi emphasized that this is a positive trend.
Funding of sectors and low competition
The state funds sectors that are of key importance to the economy the most. For example, mechanical engineering received about 2400 budget places, agronomy - 1900, construction and civil engineering - 2800, while marketing only got 300. This distribution can be explained by the mismatch between applicants' preferences and may require contractual education for those who did not score high enough.
Changes in the choice of specialties
Mykhailo Vinnytskyi reported on the Ministry of Education's activities to increase the popularity of engineering and natural sciences fields. Investments have been made to equip classrooms in schools and develop STEM education, which may change applicants' choices in the coming years.
Previously, the Ministry of Education assessed the number of graduates leaving for abroad.
The demand of applicants for specialties reflects trends in choosing professions in Ukrainian universities, where management remains the leader. Changes in sector funding and initiatives to boost the popularity of engineering fields may influence future applicants' choices.