Informal Education
Informal education encompasses the following areas: out-of-school education; postgraduate and adult education; civic education (various activities of public organizations); school and student self-government (as a way to gain managerial, organizational, communication, and other skills); educational initiatives aimed at developing additional skills and competencies (e.g., computer courses, language courses, hobby clubs, etc.). Non-formal education can be short-term, varied in intensity, and may take the form of non-academic exchange programs, internships, conferences, seminars, olympiads, practical training, summer or winter schools, business schools, workshops, trainings, and so on.
Principles of non-formal education include:
- learning that meets current educational needs (ensuring the educational needs of society as a whole and of individuals in particular);
- flexible curricula in terms of content, forms, methods, and duration of study;
- recognition of the right to education as one of the fundamental human rights at any age, with a focus on universal values and ideals of humanism;
- systemic personal and professional development;
- accessibility, continuity, and progression in education;
- recognition of prior learning outcomes;
- cooperation and partnership between governmental bodies, non-governmental and public organizations in ensuring the development of adult non-formal education;
- consideration of the cultural and educational needs of various categories of the adult population.
Key characteristics of non-formal education:
- it is organized and supported by specialists or educational systems in relevant fields of knowledge and practical skills;
- it may have specific learning goals or be aimed at general enhancement of cognitive and creative activities;
- it is not geographically limited and can be accessible anywhere in the world;
- it is not time-restricted, although typically short-term;
- it is more flexible than formal education and responds more quickly to market demands;
- it utilizes innovative learning methods.
ONLINE SELF-EDUCATION PLATFORMS
Ukrainian-language Platforms
| Prometheus | Free online courses from leading Ukrainian universities and instructors. |
| EdEra | An educational platform offering interactive courses, textbooks, and blogs on various subjects. |
| VUM (Open University of Maidan) | Courses on civic education, leadership, and social change. |
| Diia.Digital Education | A state platform with free courses for developing digital skills. |
| EduHub.in.ua | An education hub offering courses to develop soft skills and promote professional growth. |
| Coursera | Massive open online courses (MOOCs) from leading global universities; available with Ukrainian subtitles for many courses. |
| Lingva Skills | A Ukrainian project for free English language learning. |
| Duolingo | A global platform for learning foreign languages through gamified lessons. |
| Ye-Mova | An educational platform by NGO “Ukrainian World” offering mass courses for independent learning and improvement of business Ukrainian language skills. |
| Impactorium | A sustainable development online learning platform featuring short masterclasses, blogs, and recorded conferences. |
English-language Platforms
| edX | A platform offering courses from MIT, Harvard, and other leading universities. |
| Learning Passport | A platform developed by UNICEF, Microsoft, and Cambridge University to support distance learning in Ukraine. |
| TED Platform | A collection of open video lectures and talks from scientists, business leaders, politicians, and activists around the world sharing experiences, innovative ideas, and research insights. |
| BUP Course Platform | The Baltic University Programme’s platform offering free courses with certificate opportunities. |
| FutureLearn | A UK-based platform providing courses across various fields of knowledge. |
| British Council | A platform for learning the English language, offering courses, tests, and self-study materials. |