The Alliance of Ukrainian Universities organizes a number of annual events aimed at enhancing the qualifications of university professionals, developing academic and managerial expertise, and strengthening ties among universities, communities, and businesses. These events not only contribute to the professional development of faculty members and administrators, but also create a platform for interaction, exchange of ideas, and the development of joint projects that respond to current challenges in higher education and society in Ukraine. Our annual events are focused on finding innovative solutions, building horizontal connections, and integrating best practices in education, governance, and international cooperation.
Annual Forum of the Alliance
The Annual Forum of the Alliance is a key event of the year, bringing together leading experts in education, representatives of business, communities, and government to discuss current issues in university education development, innovative approaches to governance, and strategic changes in higher education. The Forum includes thematic panels, discussions, and practical workshops where participants can exchange experience and develop new approaches to university management. This event creates unique opportunities for networking and expanding cooperation across sectors. The Annual Forum of the Alliance is also a platform for discussing important topics such as talent management, strategic change, and the financial sustainability of universities. A significant share of the topics and discussions also addresses the challenges related to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In particular, issues of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction are of critical importance.
In 2024, the Forum was dedicated to the theme “Management of Educational Institutions in Times of War” and focused on talent search and attraction in the education market, managing strategic change, engaging business in cooperation — including participation in university Supervisory Boards — tools for ensuring financial sustainability, and building interaction within the business-government-community triangle. The event brought together around 100 representatives of education, business, and government (offline and online).
In 2025, the All-Ukrainian Educational Forum of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities took place in Kyiv on May 19–20 under the theme “Human Capital Development in the Context of the Labor Market: Analysis, Support, Adaptation.” The event brought together more than 200 participants in both offline and online formats, including representatives of universities, business, civil society, and public authorities. Over the course of two days at the Kyiv School of Economics, participants discussed transformations in Ukraine’s labor market and the role universities should play in these changes, including the inclusion of veterans, people with disabilities, and adults who have fallen out of the labor market into education and employment, the role of teachers in the age of artificial intelligence, the problem of skills mismatch between university education and business needs, as well as the development of micro-credentials and vocational education. In addition to the panel discussions, an important part of the Forum was small-group work in a World Café format, where participants developed practical solutions for further cooperation. During the Forum, a photo exhibition dedicated to the restoration of Sumy State University buildings after Russian missile strikes was also opened, serving as another important reminder of the context of war and the role of universities in Ukraine’s recovery.
Alliance Faculty School
The Annual School for Faculty of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities is aimed at supporting the professional development of educators in the context of modern international integration, strengthening cooperation among faculty members of the Alliance universities, and launching joint projects or courses. The School’s program is based on the latest methodologies in online learning and international collaboration, such as COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning). Faculty members have the opportunity to learn from leading experts from around the world, who share their experience and methods for implementing international educational projects.
Alliance Administrators School
The School for Administrators of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities is designed to bring together professionals from Alliance universities — including lawyers, grant writers, communications managers, accountants, and finance specialists — to strengthen their skills in project management, as well as in attracting and implementing grants for higher education institutions. It also provides an opportunity for university representatives to exchange experience and develop best solutions for further joint work within the Alliance and at their own universities. In 2024, the School was dedicated to the theme “The Ecosystem of Grant Activities.” Within the School, participants discussed grant projects at all stages — from application development to administration and audit. Separate sessions also focused on the legal, financial, and communication aspects of project work.
Alliance Student School
The Summer School for Students of the Alliance aims to engage active students from member universities in socially beneficial work and volunteering, while also providing an opportunity to exchange ideas, build connections, and create platforms for effective cooperation between student communities, universities, and civil society organizations. Within the School, participants share their experience of student or volunteer projects, exchange information on how student self-government operates at other universities, and discuss the challenges young people face in their regions. The Alliance Student School is also a platform for jointly seeking solutions to current problems and challenges. In 2024, the Summer School was held in partnership with the NGO “Building Ukraine Together” (BUR), during which two dozen Alliance students helped restore a house in Ivano-Frankivsk region, explored the cultural characteristics of the region, developed joint projects, and exchanged experience.