Liliya Hrynevych

Early years

Born into a family of teachers, Liliia was 19 years old when she entered Ivan Franko State University of Lviv. While studying in higher education at the university as a student, she also worked as a laboratory assistant from August to November 1987 in the Department of Biochemistry. Later she worked for some time as a tutor during the day in Lviv school № 70, until in 1988 she was transferred to Lviv school № 7 as a biology teacher, where she worked in this capacity until 1992. She graduated from university in 1989[1] with a major in Lecturing in Biochemistry[2].

Career in Education

In 1992 after the independence of Ukraine, Liliia Hrynevych worked in Lviv at school № 7, where she was transferred from her role as a biology teacher to that of deputy Headmistress of a School of National Education[1]. Liliia was awarded a second degree in 1993, following study at the Interdisciplinary Institute and retraining as an "economist-manager" at the Lviv Polytechnic State University[3]. Internships at Warsaw and Columbia University followed, to study problems in reforming the education system[2]. In 1994 she moved to Lviv specialized school № 53, where she worked as deputy director for educational work , while undertaking an intensive course in the study of English. After four years she was transferred to another specialized school in the same city, № 28, to take on the role of Headmistress, while undertaking an intensive course in the study of German. In this role, the future Minister worked until 2002[1]. In 2002 Liliia Hrynevych relocated to Kyiv, where she worked at the Krok City Institute of Economics and Law as a senior lecturer in the Department of Management. At the same time, Liliia took on a part-time role as Director of the Renaissance International Fund Centre for Technology in Testing. She participated in the creation of the Ukrainian Centre for Educational Quality Assessment, which she headed during February to August 2006. During her work at the Centre, Liliia Hrynevych was deeply involved in the development of External Independent Testing of pupils and applicants to higher education. The result was the introduction of EIT (External Independent Testing) at a nationwide level. Later in 2005[1] she was awarded a ‘Kadidat’ first postgraduate degree for her dissertation on "Trends in decentralization of education management in modern Poland." [2]

During 2006-2009 worked as Head of the Department of Education and Science at Kyiv City State Administration.

MP activity

Liliia Hrynevych began her political career when she joined the "Front for Change" party , which for a short time had her on the Board of the party. She coordinated the direction of the "Knowledge Society" part of a project called "Government of Change" for this party, on behalf of party leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk[1], for whom she was the adviser on Education Affairs[2] for "Front for Change".

7th convocation of Parliament

At the time of the Parliamentary Elections in 2012 she was studying as a doctoral student at the Institute of Teacher Education and Adult Education of the National Academy of Pedagogical Science of Ukraine. In autumn 2012, following the elections to the Verkhovna Rada Ukrainian Parliament, Liliia Mikhaylivna Hrynevych was elected an MP of Ukraine to the 7th convocation as № 14 in the list of the United All-Ukrainian “Batkivshchina” (Fatherland) Party [4].

In December of that year, after election to Parliament, she Headed the Committee on Science and Education [5]. After her appointment to this position Liliia Hrynevych defined the key tasks in this role as: ensuring fair and equitable access to higher education, increased access to education and improvements in its quality. In particular, improving legislation on these matters. At that time a new version of the law on higher education in Ukraine was being drafted[6]. On 15 June 2013, after the amalgamation of the Front for Change and Batkivshchina parties, she became one of the deputy leaders of the new Batkivshchina Party. [1] That same year Liliia joined several newly created parliamentary groups and associations. In particular, parliamentary groups on interparliamentary relations with countries such as Israel, Italy, Canada, South Korea, Poland, Russia, Singapore, the United States, Turkey, Hungary, and Finland[4].

In 2013 the creation of a Parliamentary Commission for FutureA ffairs was proposed. The task before this committee, as it was seen, should have been in helping MPs to consider issues related to forecasts and future plans, identify priority areas for technological innovation and innovative development of the nation, process models for future development, and to analyze various government programs. Regulations to establish the Commission were registered in Parliament on 29 May 2013 and by 19 June they has already been discussed in the chamber. However, MPs did not support Liliia Hrynevych’s initiative. At that time, according to data prepared by MP Adam Martynyuk, only 400 of the 1,299 registered Bills had been considered in committees and made ready for a vote in the chamber. Among them: transplants, preventive vaccination, legislation relating to banking activities etc.[1] . During this convocation of the Parliament of Ukraine, on 22 April 2015, a temporary Commission of the Parliament of Ukraine of the issues of the Future was created. 228 MPs were in favour of this Regulation № 2219 on the second reading[7]. Liliia Hrynevych was on the Commission.

'8th Convocation of Parliament'

During the early parliamentary elections in 2014 , Liliia Hrynevych was elected to Parliament on the lists of "Government Party in Power" and "People's Front", headed at that time by Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Liliia Hrynevych ran on a multi-mandate platform, and was ranked ninth in the list of the party[8]. On 14 April 2016, the Verkhovna Rada Parliament of Ukraine appointed new a Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which included Liliia Hrynevych designated as Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine[9].

Legislative contributions

Liliia Hrynevych has been the driving force behind two fundamental reforms of the educational, social and humanitarian sector: the introduction of External Independent Testing, and the development and ratification of a new Law of Ukraine on Higher Education. Implementation of External Independent Testing has led to equal access to education for everyone as well as a reduction in corruption in education in Ukraine. The Higher Education Law of Ukraine in 2014 established many innovations in higher education in Ukraine. In particular, this autonomy of universities, increased roles for student unions, changes in educational levels and academic degrees according to international practice, a new classification of universities, and new financing higher education[10].

The main developers of higher education reform in Ukraine in general and the Higher Education law have been, in addition to Liliia Hrynevych as the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee of Ukraine on Science and Education considered to be key include the former Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Serhiy Kvit, and the developer of the first draft of the new law, Member of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine and Rector of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Mykhaylo Zghurovsky[11]. Among other achievements - the adoption of amendments to the Budget Code[12], and changes related to the organization of inclusive education [13][14].

During her tenure during the 7th convocation, Liliia Hrynevych introduced 110 Bills and resolutions, 14 of which have entered into force, and submitted 23 parliamentary inquiries. The total includes 261 amendments to Bills, of which 244 have been adopted[15][16] . During her tenure during the 8th convocation Liliia Hrynevych has introduced 82 bills and resolutions, 37 of which have entered into force, and submitted 10 parliamentary inquiries. The total included 52 amendments to Bills of which 34 have been adopted [17][18] .

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Bills submitted by Liliia Hrynevych to the 7th convocation of Parliament

1. Bill: Regulations on the adopting of a draft Law of Ukraine on Higher Education № 1187-2P dated 19 June 2013.[19]

2. Bill: Law on amendments to Article 90 of the Budget Code of Ukraine (including expenditure on certain secondary schools into the expenditure part of the Budget of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and regional budgets № 2087 dated 24 January2013. Submitted in conjunction with Valeriy Dubil[12].

3. Bill: Regulations to commemorate the 95th birthday of V.O. Sukhomlinskiy № 2210а dated 4 June 2013[20]

4. Bill: Regulations on introducing amendments to the Regulations of the Parliament of Ukraine on the undertaking of a Parliamentary hearing on the topic of: Accessibility and Quality of secondary education in Ukraine:status and a roadmap to improvements № 2510а dated 4 August 2013[21]

5. Bill:Regulations on the formation of a temporary investigative Parliamentary Commission to look into violations in State expenditure, inefficient use of State funds, and abuse of office by officials of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, other state enterprises, establishments and organizations in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry № 2690 dated 2 April 2013. Submitted in conjunction with Andriy Ivanchuk, Oleh Holevey and Maria Ionova[22].

6. Bill: Regulations on the carrying out of a Parliamentary hearing on the topic: Accessibility and Quality of secondary education:status and roadmap for improvement (23 October 2013) № 2771dated 10 April 2013.[23]

7. Bill:Law on amendments to а number of legislative Acts on education relating to the organization of inclusive education № 2878 dated 18 April 2013. Submitted in conjunction with Valeriy Sushkevych.[13]

8. Bill: Regulations on the adoption of a Bill of Ukraine on amendments relating to the organization of inclusive education № 2878/II dated 12 November 2013 року.[14]

9. Bill: Regulations on the marking of the 100th anniversary of the Karabaz biological station at the Karabaz nature reserve under National Academy of Science of Ukraine № 2886 dated 19 April 2013. Submitted in conjunction with Mykola Soroka, Oleksandr Zubchevskiy Rostyslav Pavlenko, Vitaliy Dzoz, Anton Dorokhov, Leonid Yemets, Andriy Parubiyev, and Iryna Farion[24]

10. Bill:Regulations on the awarding of the annual prize of the Ukrainian Parliament for educationalists in secondary education, vocational education and training, pre-school and extra-curricular educational establishments № 3275 dated 18 September 2013. Submitted in conjunction with Mykola Soroka, Oleksandr Zubchevskiy Rostyslav Pavlenko, Vitaliy Dzoz, Anton Dorokhov, Leonid Yemets, Andriy Parubiyev, and Iryna Farion.[25]

11. Bill: Regulations for conducting a Parliamentary hearing on the topic: Education, Healthcare and Social Support for children with impaired psychological development: problems and a roadmap for improvements (4 June 2014) № 3314-д dated 14 September 2014.[26]

12. Bill: Regulations regarding Recommendations made during the Parliamentary hearing on the topic: Accessibility and Quality of secondary education:status and a roadmap for improvements № 4062 dated 30 January 2014.[27]

13. Bill: Regulations regarding the approval of Recommendations made during the Parliamentary hearing on the topic: Accessibility and Quality of secondary education:status and a roadmap for improvements № 4062-B dated 11 April 2014.[28]

14. Bill:Law on the Rehabilitation of persons following the implementaion of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights № 4294 dated 27 February 2014. Submitted in conjunction with Iryna Lutsenko, Pavel Petrenko, Oleksandr Bryhynts, andriy Shevchenko, Volodymyr Aryev, Andriy Kozhemyatskin and Yuriy Stets[29]

15. Bill: Regulations for conducting a Parliamentary hearing on the topic: Status and legislative support for the science and applied science sector of the nation (2 July2014) № 4479 dated 18 September 2014 [30].

16. Bill:Law on introducing amendments to the Laws of Ukraine entitled Education and Mobilization and mobilization training providing guarantees for students, postgraduates, teaching staff and researchers № 4889 dated 15 May 2014.[31]