Supporting the creation of Ukraine’s Centre of Excellence for Innovation and Technology in Education and developing the educational technology ecosystem

Ukraine has made significant progress in recent years towards digital transformation, which has been strongly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale military aggression. The education system had to quickly adapt to distance and hybrid learning models to ensure the continuity of education. New digital platforms such as All-Ukrainian School Online (AUSO) and Mriia emerged, which allow access to educational materials even in times of crisis.

However, several challenges have emerged:

• Uneven access to educational technology and the internet;
• Insufficient digital skills of teachers;
• Infrastructure and accessibility problems, especially in war-affected areas;
• Ensuring inclusive and high-quality education for all learners, including children with disabilities.

The Ukrainian government’s goal is not to limit itself to mere recovery, but to strive for global leadership in the field of educational technology. To achieve this goal, the creation of a central development center – Ukraine’s Center of Excellence for Innovation and Technology in Education (CEIT) – is seen as a key step. CEIT is designed to bring together stakeholders, support technology-based innovation, and create a flexible and crisis-resistant education system.

CEIT is closely linked to Ukraine’s WINWIN strategy, which aims to make Ukraine a global innovation hub, including in the field of educational technology (EdTech), by 2030. CEIT supports the goals of the WINWIN strategy by focusing on the digitalization of education, creating a flexible and crisis-resistant education system, and positioning Ukraine as a global leader in EdTech.