Lviv Polytechnic National University was ranked second among Ukrainian higher education institutions according to the results of a comprehensive performance indicator in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine No. 700 of 07.05.2025. The document enshrines the return to the so-called formula funding – a transparent mechanism for distributing public funds between universities.
– The achieved result is a clear indication of the joint work of the entire university community. It is thanks to the efforts of our academics, researchers, students and staff that Lviv Polytechnic is confidently establishing itself as a leading higher education institution in Ukraine, said Vasyl Lemishovskyi, Vice-Rector for Economic Affairs, Lviv Polytechnic.
In 2024, the Ministry of Education and Science resumed the use of the formulaic principle of allocating public funds. This approach was already used in 2020–2021. Back then, it showed good results, as it allows directing resources to where education is of high quality, knowledge-intensive, internationalised and in demand in the labour market.
Therefore, university funding is now based on five key criteria.
1. The number of students
This is the main criterion. The formula takes into account the number of students studying at the expense of the state, as well as their ZNO/NMT results. More successful applicants mean more funding. The major (technical fields have higher coefficients), level and form of education are also taken into account.
2. Research activities
Universities receive more funds if they are actively engaged in research, attract grants, and provide consulting or technical services. The calculation is not based on the total amount, but on the amount per academic staff member.
3. International activities
Presence in international rankings, participation in Erasmus+ programmes, academic mobility – all this increases the amount of funding. Lviv Polytechnic, in particular, has strong positions in this criterion.
4. Employment of graduates
Based on the Pension Fund’s data, a ranking of higher education institutions is formed by the percentage of employed graduates. The top 30 universities receive the most support.
– We need to pay more attention to this criterion, because it is not currently at the level we would like to achieve. Therefore, one of the first tasks we are going to solve is to increase the level of targeted employment of our graduates, added the Vice-Rector.
5. Regional coefficient
Since 2024, this criterion has been focused on supporting frontline and affected regions – Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and others. The regional coefficient is aimed at preserving educational infrastructure in times of war.
According to Mykhailo Vynnytskyi, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, in his article «Budget Allocation Formula: How Universities Will Receive State Funding» in Ukrainska Pravda newspaper, the formula approach shifts the focus from maintaining institutions to funding specific students. The money «follows the student», not just the university.
This increases the efficiency of using public funds, stimulates competition between higher education institutions, and contributes to the quality of higher education in Ukraine. And the example of Lviv Polytechnic shows that universities that really invest in students, science and international cooperation receive strong government support.
