EDUCATIONAL EXPORT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF UKRAINE'S SOFT POWER AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article investigates the potential of Ukraine's vocational and higher education institutions as an instrument for competing for foreign students in the markets of the Americas, India, Bangladesh and Central Asian states. It is argued that global reindustrialisation (USA) and accelerated industrialisation (Latin America and Asia) generate sustained demand for engineering and natural-science competencies in which Ukrainian higher and vocational education has a traditional comparative advantage. It is demonstrated that digitalisation and distance-learning (e-learning) technologies substantially reduce barriers to entry into the international education market: virtual laboratories, XR technologies and adaptive LMS platforms enable full practical training online. The need for legislative reform enabling fully remote enrolment and study for foreign students without physical presence in Ukraine is substantiated. The synergetic effect between educational export and soft power is revealed: foreign graduates become agents of people's diplomacy, cultural ambassadors and potential business partners for domestic enterprises. A differentiated approach to target markets is proposed along with a five-level model of state strategy and implementation priorities.