From the revolution of dignity to a revolution of academic excellence? Paths taken and not taken in Ukraine

This chapter sheds light on the intricacies of higher education reforms in Ukraine - the country that captured world attention in 2014 by standing up to the tyranny of Russian neo-imperialism and illiberalism. As a post-Soviet society fighting the Soviet legacy, Ukraine had struggled to redesign its universities to strengthen democracy and open society despite the 2014 Revolution of Dignity urging for accelerated reforms. Alas, the desired transformations required cardinal shifts in understanding the concepts and practices of institutional autonomy, academic freedom, and academic excellence - the western terms that were regarded as alien or adversarial in the Soviet discourse. This paper elaborates on the challenges faced by Ukrainian academics in de-constructing the Soviet legacy, establishing strategic international partnerships, and expanding the scope of European integration in order to enhance critical thinking and advance post-colonial liberation on the path to building academic excellence. Copyright © 2023 Gerard A. Postiglione, Christopher J. Johnstone and Wesley R. Teter.