The National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine announces with deep sadness that on May 28, 2020, at the age of 76, the heart of the corresponding member of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Professor Mykhailo Stepko, stopped.

Mykhailo Stepko was born on January 24, 1945 in Romny, Sumy region, in the family of an employee. In 1963 he graduated from Romen High School № 2 with a silver medal. In 1968 he graduated from the Faculty of Radiophysics of Gorky Kharkiv State University. He passed the path of assistant, senior lecturer, associate professor, dean of the Faculty of Physics and Technology of Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University.

Mykhailo Stepko was a specialist in the field of higher education management and educational technologies. For a long time - from 1986 to 2007 he worked at the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the Ukrainian SSR, and with the proclamation of independence of Ukraine - at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine: head of department, deputy head of department, head of the Main Department of Higher Education, Higher Attestation Commission, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.

For a long time Mykhailo Stepko was the representative of Ukraine in the Council of Europe Committee on Higher Education and Science (1991-2007), for four years he was elected a member of the Bureau of the Council of Europe Committee on Higher Education and Science, participated in the development of higher education strategy in Europe, which preceded the beginning of the Bologna Process. He was a member of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Bologna Process in the Higher Education System of Ukraine.

From 2007 - First Deputy, and from 2012 to 2015 - Director of the Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine.

From 2011 to 2014 - a member of the National Team of Experts on Higher Education Reform in Ukraine.

Mykhailo Stepko - Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine since 2003. Author of about 200 scientific papers. With his participation, normative and legal documents were developed to ensure the functioning and development of the higher education system of Ukraine, in particular the laws "On Education", "On Higher Education", the State Program "Education (Ukraine of the XXI Century)". Mykhailo Stepko′s research interests included the spheres of development of higher education in Ukraine, a comparative analysis of the education systems of the world, the role and place of education and science in the development of the individual and society.

Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine, Mykhailo Stepko was awarded state awards: Order of Merit II and III degree, Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Diplomaі of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine.

The National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

The bright memory of Mikhailo Stepko - a profound specialist, mentor and teacher, patriot, decent and sincere man, will forever remain in the hearts of his friends and associates, will be honored by grateful followers.