Strategic Analysis of Higher Education Institutions Development in Ukraine Under Current Challenges: An Integrated Approach

Abstract

The strategic development of higher education in­stitutions (HEIs) during military conflicts represents a critical yet understudied area in educational manage­ment research. This study examines the transformation patterns of Ukrainian HEIs during wartime, addressing the urgent need for empirical research on educational resilience under extreme conditions. The research im­plements a mixed-method approach integrating quanti­tative and qualitative analyses. Data collection involved a comprehensive expert survey (n=77) representing key stakeholder groups: academic administration (16.88%), teaching staff (19.48%), students (18.18%), regulatory bodies (12.99%), employers (10.39%), and international experts (5.20%). The methodological framework com­bines SWOT, PESTEL, and SKEPTIC analyses, validated through expert evaluation using a five-point Likert scale. The analysis reveals three critical impact factors: military conflict (4.60/5.0), financial instability (4.55/5.0), and security challenges (4.47/5.0). Ukrainian HEIs demon­strate significant adaptability through technological transformation (91% implementation rate) and inter­national integration (84.5% cooperation rate). Strong correlations emerge between security-financial aspects, technology-education quality, and sociocultural adapta­tions. The research establishes an innovative framework for analyzing HEIs strategic development during crises, demonstrating that institutional resilience requires syn­chronized implementation of technological moderniza­tion, international cooperation, and enhanced security measures. These findings contribute to crisis manage­ment theory in higher education (HE) and provide practi­cal guidelines for institutional adaptation under extreme conditions.