Yakubynska Scientific Session – 2026: Discussion on the Future of Sociological Education in Ukraine

On April 10, 2026, the 19th International Scientific and Practical Conference “Yakubynska Scientific Session” took place, dedicated to current issues in the development of sociological education in Ukraine and worldwide.

The event was organised by the Department of Sociology of the Education and Research Institute of Sociology and Media Communications of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and the Kharkiv branch of the Sociological Association of Ukraine.

The conference was held in a hybrid format and brought together around 60 participants from various cities in Ukraine and Europe.

Participants discussed a wide range of issues: from the place of Ukrainian sociology in the global context to its role in decision-making processes, from the digitalisation of education to its transformation under wartime conditions and in the era of post-truth.

The keynote report “Sociological Education in Ukraine: New Challenges” was delivered by Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Vil Bakirov, who outlined the main stages of the field’s development and current threats. Special attention was given to the history of sociological education, including the Kharkiv and Lviv sociological schools, as well as the experience of the first generation of Ukrainian sociologists.

A separate block of presentations focused on contemporary transformations in education. Speakers emphasised the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on educational programmes, the importance of standardising sociologist training, and improving the quality of PhD education. Results of doctoral student surveys and practical approaches to programme accreditation were also presented.

Within the international discourse, participants were introduced to sociological education practices in Poland and the Carpathian region countries, and discussed prospects for the development of sociology in the context of current social changes.

A forward-looking perspective on the field was presented in a talk dedicated to trends in sociological education and its role in the engineering of social change.

The organising committee noted the high level of interest in the conference topics, thanked participants for their active engagement, and invited them to the next “Yakubynska Scientific Session – 2027.”