The General Assembly of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine elected Oleg Topuzov as president of the Academy for a five-year term—from September 18, 2026, to September 17, 2031.
According to the results of a secret ballot, 185 assembly members supported his candidacy, nine voted against, and two ballots were deemed invalid. Topuzov was the only candidate for the position.
He succeeded Vasily Kremen, who had led the academy since 1997. The General Assembly unanimously elected Kremen as honorary president of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences for life.
In presenting the academy’s development program, Topuzov outlined four core principles of operation: continuity, competence, openness, and effectiveness.
“My task is not to start from scratch. My task is to preserve the best of what we have and, together with you, to usher in a new phase of our academy’s development,” he stated.
Among the main areas of focus for the new leadership, Topuzov highlighted strengthening the influence of educational science on the formation of state education policy, rebuilding human capital, overcoming educational gaps, supporting young scholars, and researching the impact of artificial intelligence on the education system.
One of the key initiatives is to be a systematic foresight study on the development of education in Ukraine through 2035. It will cover possible scenarios for the development of preschool, K-12, vocational, higher, and adult education, taking into account demographic changes, labor market needs, technological development, and European integration.
“Our research should not end with just monographs, articles, or recommendations. It must influence government decisions,” Topuzov emphasized.
He identified scientific support for education during wartime and postwar reconstruction as a separate priority. This refers, in particular, to the psychological resilience of children and youth, support for educators, inclusion, and the reintegration of veterans and Ukrainians returning from abroad.
According to the new president of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, Ukraine’s recovery must begin with the restoration of human capital.
Topuzov also proposed launching a university-wide program titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education.” Research should cover changes in the role of teachers, approaches to assessing knowledge, issues of academic integrity, and the competencies students will need over the next 10–20 years.
The NAPN’s European integration will involve expanding joint research, participating in international consortia and programs such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and COST, promoting academic mobility, and increasing the number of joint international publications.
For young researchers, there are plans to create the “Young Scientist of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine” program, which will provide grant support, mentorship, international mobility, and participation in major research projects.
During the annual meeting, the results of the NAPN’s activities for 2017–2026 were also presented. During this period, the Academy’s institutions completed 163 fundamental and 195 applied research projects, produced more than 14,000 scientific articles, and published over 250 monographs, preprints, and other scientific works.
The NAPN’s electronic library collection has grown to 40,000 full-text resources, and the number of downloads has reached 19 million. The Academy’s institutions participated annually in nearly 50 international scientific and educational projects and programs.
During the meeting, the Academy’s new leadership was also formed. Volodymyr Lugovoy and Vitaliy Panko were elected vice presidents of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, and a new presidium was formed consisting of 29 members, 22 of whom had not previously served on it.
The National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine conducts fundamental and applied research in the fields of education, pedagogy, and psychology; participates in the development of educational standards, curricula, and textbooks; and provides scientific support for reforms in the education system.
