The goal of the Future Perfect project is to officially establish English as the language of international communication in Ukraine, to open up new opportunities for every Ukrainian for their professional and personal development, to help them compete in the global market, and to earn high salaries.
"The government plans to launch a comprehensive and accessible program for learning the English language, open to everyone, regardless of their financial situation or place of residence. With an individual approach and open access to educational resources. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a bill to Parliament that officially designates English as the language of international communication in Ukraine. Already, Ukrainians who speak English have advantages in the job market. This translates to higher salaries, more career opportunities, the ability to advance more rapidly, and the opportunity to acquire new skills if needed. Ukrainians create competitive products and services that can conquer the world. The English language will be the engine of their advancement, a driver of success, and a guarantee of self-realization for thousands of people," stated Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
According to research from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 88% of respondents believe that Ukrainians should definitely learn the English language. Furthermore, the transformation of English into the language of international communication in Ukraine is an important step towards EU membership, which will enhance the competitiveness of Ukrainian businesses, science, education, innovation, and government institutions.
That's why the President of Ukraine has initiated the launch of the national program "Future Perfect," which will stimulate the demand for the English language among Ukrainians. The language program will be coordinated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
"The President has set a specific goal for Ukraine's GDP—a one-trillion-dollar economy. Our aim is to increase the country's income by over five times. We need to create innovative companies with high added value that will cost billions. These companies are established by people who learn quickly, acquire new knowledge, and develop skills. One of the steps to achieve this goal is knowledge of the English language. 56% of Ukrainians want to improve their proficiency in a foreign language. The Future Perfect program will be one of the drivers of change on this path. Ukrainians should be able to speak the same language as the world, exchange experiences, and share innovative ideas," emphasized Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology Development—Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.
The Future Perfect program includes products and services designed to help people learn English in a convenient and accessible format. The first of these are the Empower platform and the Promova language learning platform.
"Our global goal is to strengthen Ukraine, Ukrainians, and everything Ukrainian, including by entering the global market. The English language is one of the necessary tools for this. Currently, 49% of surveyed Ukrainians have no skills in the English language. This suggests that nearly half of the surveyed citizens may be missing out on additional opportunities that could be used for personal development and the country's development. This gap can be filled, in part, through changes in education. So, at the state level, we will promote the study of the English language at all levels of education and at any age, starting from preschool," stated Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Liisovyi.
The Promova language learning platform with a personalized approach offers Ukrainians Premium access to all language courses for 3 years. The online platform for learning English, Empower from the University of Cambridge, is available for Ukrainian educators and students.
"The functioning of English as the language of international communication in Ukraine should be regulated at the state level. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, in collaboration with other agencies, has developed a corresponding bill that will expand the scope of the English language's use and create conditions for its mastery. At the same time, the adoption of this law will strengthen our cultural diplomacy and help promote Ukraine in the world, providing opportunities for creative development for our artists," stated Rostyslav Karandieiev, Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
According to the British Council's research, English language teachers have a very high level of language proficiency, with over 90% of them having CEFR B2 or C1 levels. Teachers play a crucial role in setting the standard for the foundation upon which future innovations and language policies will be built.
"The development of human capital is one of the key priorities of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. Education is an integral part of this process, and we aim to build one of the most flexible and fastest educational systems in the world. Research from the KMIS shows that people with very low incomes don't know English at all (65%), while among those with high incomes, only 27% fall into that category. Obtaining international education, entering the international job market, and participating in global projects are all possible if you know the language of international communication. The Future Perfect project will enable us to speak the same language as the world, understand each other, share experiences, and acquire knowledge," emphasized Valeriia Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for Eurointegration.
The Future Perfect language program will help expand the use of the English language in various public spheres of social life, stimulate language learning for different groups, including educators, civil servants, entrepreneurs, citizens, and local government bodies. This will help create a favorable linguistic climate for everyone living and working in Ukraine.
"The aspirations of the Ukrainian people are clear: they want further integration into Europe, the revival of their economy, building a better future than what was, and implementing important reforms. Improving the understanding and use of the English language is crucial to achieving these priorities," said Theodore Del, Acting Mission Director of USAID in Ukraine.
Knowledge of English opens up broader prospects for job searches and education. Additionally, language proficiency allows individuals to consume a wide range of content in its original form, such as literature, movies, scientific works, thought leader channels, and more. For entrepreneurs, the English language offers the opportunity for direct negotiations, which can significantly expedite processes and preserve essential context.
"This project is about Ukraine's future. I am confident that there will come a day when every Ukrainian, regardless of age, gender, region of residence, or level of education, will be able to communicate freely in English as needed, for work, education, travel, or leisure. At the East Europe Foundation, we have been supporting all the innovative projects of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and its partners for eight years. However, this project is special because it is visionary and strategic for Ukraine," emphasized Viktor Liakh, President of the East Europe Foundation.
A high level of English proficiency enables Ukrainians to attend international conferences and establish connections with professionals from any country. Industry events help expand the circle of professional communication and present Ukraine as a country ready for international communication and agreements.
"Mastercard, as an international company operating in 210 countries and territories worldwide, sees its mission as creating an inclusive world for everyone to realize their full potential. We are pleased to support this important national project to deepen English language knowledge, which, in our view, will help Ukraine further integrate into the European and global context, open new opportunities for Ukrainians, provide even broader access to knowledge and technology, and facilitate communication without limitations. Ultimately, it will bring us one step closer to our new future," emphasized Inga Andreieva, General Manager of Mastercard in Ukraine and Moldova.
The Future Perfect language program is implemented by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. It is supported by the USAID / UK Aid project "Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services / TAPAS" and the Eastern Europe Foundation. The project's partner is the international technology company Mastercard.
