FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE ECONOMY: CHALLENGES AND DIRECTIONS FOR TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

In the context of global transformations of the socio-economic landscape, ensuring access to higher education is a determining factor in the formation of an inclusive economic model based on the principles of equal opportunities, social integration, and economic sustainability. The issue of financing higher education in Ukraine, particularly through regulatory mechanisms such as setting indicative costs, raises the question of harmonizing economic efficiency with social justice. The aim of the study is to conceptualize the relationship between the financial mechanisms of higher education and inclusive economic development, with the definition of strategies for overcoming barriers to accessibility. The methodological approach integrates concepts of human capital, institutional analysis, and inclusive growth paradigms, complemented by an assessment of regulations and statistical data on the cost of education and regional disparities. The study found that current financial instruments, particularly unified pricing, limit access to education for socially vulnerable groups, exacerbating inequality and hindering social mobility. At the same time, unregulated segments of the education market are prone to quality decline due to price dumping. The conclusions emphasize the need to reform the higher education financial system by introducing adaptive regulatory instruments that take into account regional specifics and social vulnerability. It is proposed to develop a mechanism for social education contracts that combines state support with targeted employment of graduates, as well as the introduction of an education accessibility index that would adjust pricing to take into account economic and demographic factors. Further research should focus on developing methodological principles for assessing the contribution of higher education institutions to social inclusion, taking into account demographic, economic, and cultural indicators. This will contribute to the formation of a sustainable financing model based on the principles of social justice, economic efficiency, and sustainable development.