The All-Ukrainian Educational Forum of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities “Human Capital Development in the Context of the Labor Market: Analysis, Assistance, Adaptation” was held in Kyiv.

The event, hosted by the Kyiv School of Economics, brought together over 200 participants: representatives of universities, business, public sector and government agencies.

SumDU was represented by a delegation of Ivan KOZII (vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work), Andriana KOSTENKO (head of the Department of Psychology, Political Science and Socio-Cultural Technologies) and Olena KUPENKO (professor of the same department).

Over two days in the format of four panel discussions, the participants jointly sought answers to a key question: how is the labor market in Ukraine transforming and what role should universities play in these processes?

The first panel discussion focused on challenges of engaging veterans, people with disabilities, and adults who are not currently active in the labor market.

The second panel discussion focused on the artificial intelligence impact on modern education and labor market transformation.

The third panel discussion, one of the most dynamic, was devoted to the problem of skill mismatch. The speakers came to a common conclusion: the “graduate-business-university” triangle operates in different planes, and it is higher education institutions that should take on the role of coordinators of change to narrow the gap between educational programs and current market needs.

The final panel discussion concerned micro-qualifications and vocational education as a response to challenges of skill mismatch. The panelists discussed prospects of micro-qualifications as an effective tool for quick retraining and increased professional mobility.

Each day of the forum ended with small group work in the format of a “world cafe”. Participants developed practical solutions, ranging from models of effective interaction with employers to opportunities of integrating micro-qualifications into curricula. This not only deepened the discussion, but also helped to form a common vision of further actions.

The Forum has become not only a platform for analyzing challenges, but also a platform for sharing experiences, generating new ideas, and establishing partnerships. The atmosphere of openness, lively networking, and practical orientation of the discussions have become a real driver of future changes.

A special forum highlight was opening of a photo exhibition dedicated to the SumDU restoration after missile attacks. The exhibition will be on display at the KSE until 23 May 2025. On 26-30 May 2025, it will be available at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. It will then travel to other Alliance member universities and associate partners.

We sincerely thank our colleagues and friends from the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities for their support and solidarity. Together we will restore our SumDU!