NATO provides the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine with criteria for a military education audit

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has received from NATO experts a comprehensive list of compliance and evaluation criteria that will form the basis for an institutional audit of Ukraine’s military education system. The audit commenced in May and is scheduled to conclude by the end of the year. 

NATO criteria encompass an analysis of the compatibility of Ukraine’s military education with NATO standards, the effectiveness of educational programs, and the professional qualifications of lecturers.

The audit will proceed in several phases, with funding provided by partners from Lithuania. 

In the first stage, in May, higher military educational institutions will prepare self-assessment reports and complete questionnaires regarding compliance with NATO criteria. From June to September, a team of NATO experts will review these documents before traveling to Ukraine to meet with representatives of military educational institutions. The final stage will be the auditors’ concluding report, which is expected to be released in December 2025. 

The reports and questionnaires address a wide range of topics, including: 

• Alignment of educational programs with NATO requirements;
• Effectiveness of teaching methods and knowledge acquisition;
• Relevance of disciplines to the needs of military service;
• Professional training of lecturers. 

Additionally, the audit will assess administrative processes, the quality of knowledge evaluation, the use of modern educational technologies, and compliance with civilian oversight and democratic principles.

“Successful completion of the institutional audit will enable Ukraine to apply for certification of its professional military education courses. This opens opportunities to involve service members from NATO partner countries in educational and training programs in Ukraine,” emphasized Volodymyr Mirnenko, Head of the Department of Military Education and Science at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.