The richest pensioner of Ukraine, Kivalov, was deprived of the "Odesa Law Academy"

The richest pensioner of Ukraine, Kivalov, was deprived of the "Odesa Law Academy"

The Cabinet of Ministers has merged the National University "Odesa Law Academy" with the Odesa National University named after I. I. Mechnikov.

This was reported by the Ministry of Education and Science.

The government assures that the reorganization will not negatively affect students. Students enrolled at the National University "Odesa Law Academy" and its structural units will continue their studies in the same educational programs they were admitted to, without changes in funding conditions (state-funded places will be preserved, and contract costs remain unchanged). The transition of programs from the National University "Odesa Law Academy" to the Odesa National University named after I. I. Mechnikov will occur gradually throughout 2025.

A reorganization commission, headed by the rector of the Odesa National University named after I. I. Mechnikov, will be established to transfer property and agree on the staffing for the new enlarged university. Meanwhile, the rights of academic and pedagogical staff of both institutions are protected during the reorganization, except for the executive positions, which include the president, rector, and vice-rectors.

The Ministry of Education reminded that the Odesa Law Academy was separated from the structure of the Odesa University named after I. I. Mechnikov in 1997. Now, according to the government’s decision, educational programs and academic schools, which have traditionally provided high-quality training of lawyers in Odesa, are returned to the structure of a classical university, in line with European practice.

It is noted that the main reason for revising the network of higher education institutions is the demographic situation. Over the past fifteen years, the average number of students per higher education institution has decreased from 6.5 thousand to 3.5 thousand. The policy of consolidating higher education institutions is being implemented to improve quality, enhance the capacity of universities by combining their resources, and attract investment to update their research and educational infrastructure.

The president of the National University "Odesa Law Academy" is former MP "regional" Serhiy Kivalov, and the rector is Oleh Todoschak.