HUMAN CAPITAL IN UKRAINE: PROBLEMS OF RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT (THE EDUCOLOGICAL ASPECTS)

Abstract

The article examines the theoretical and practical foundations of human capital recovery as one of the key factors ensuring the economic and social development of Ukraine and highlights the role of education in this process. In the context of profound socio-economic transformations caused by the war, mass emigration, demographic losses, and the crisis of social institutions, the renewal and development of human capital have become issues of strategic importance. The author emphasizes that the loss of qualified professionals, forced migration, declining quality of education and healthcare, growing psychological exhaustion of the population, and the overall deterioration of the demographic situation significantly reduce the state’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging challenges and to sustain and renew human capital. The article argues that human capital should not be viewed solely as an economic category but rather as a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses social, cultural, institutional, and value-based components. The relationship between the quality of human capital and the resilience of the entire social system at national, regional, and local community levels is analyzed. Given the contemporary challenges faced by Ukraine in wartime conditions, it is crucial to identify mechanisms that would enable the integration of human development policy into the national development strategy through a dedicated programme for the recovery and development of human capital in Ukraine. A comprehensive approach to human capital recovery is proposed, including investment in education and healthcare, support for migrants and internally displaced persons, the strengthening of civic responsibility and social cohesion, as well as the development and implementation of a social housing construction programme, which is considered essential for encouraging the return of Ukrainians from abroad. The role of education in the renewal and development of the country’s human capital is substantiated. Particular emphasis is placed on the need for synergy between educational, economic, and social public policies, the development of retraining programmes, the implementation of inclusive educational approaches, and the strengthening of cooperation between universities and the business sector. The article concludes that the recovery of human capital should become a key priority of state policy in the context of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. Such an approach will contribute not only to economic growth but also to strengthening societal resilience, preserving social cohesion, and ensuring the effective renewal and sustainable development of human capital.