Resilience of Ukraine’s education: reflections after visit to Lviv - June 2026
By Gintaras Steponavicius - CCG Director for CEE+, former minister of Education and Science of Lithuania
Every opportunity to visit in Ukraine in the context of ongoing full-scale invasion is inseparable from strong emotional feelings. While in Ukraine you witness that country is not only fighting - people live their lives, work, create and move on. It is difficult to realise, but Ukraine’s education demonstrated enormous resilience.
As a proof of it was Teachers of Tomorrow festival – biggest educational event in Ukraine with more than 2500 teachers, school leaders, decision makers was organised by the leading Ukrainian education NGO Osvitoria and iFest and took place on 18-19 June in Lviv. Filled with vibrant atmosphere event brought educators from all over Ukraine to discuss ongoing education reform known as New Ukrainian School. Systemic reform continues to be implemented even in the context ongoing war. Innovative educational ideas, ed-tech solutions were presented and discussed at the event.
A number of international donors and supporters of Ukraine in the field of education contributed to the event as well as joined closed round table with Oksen Lisovyj, Minister of Education of Science of Ukraine. Cormack Consultancy Group was represented by Gintaras Steponavicius, Director for CEE+ and Olexander Smyrnov, Director of Twinning. We had opportunity to present ongoing support to Ukraine’s higher education sector by CCG through Twinning Initiative involving more than 100 UK universities and supported by different donors. As part of CCG’s commitment to support Ukraine delivery of 10 DD programs between UK and UA universities, Seed funding and support accessing to Horizon Europe Funding was also presented to different stakeholders.
As a former Lithuanian Minister of Education I had opportunity to present to the audience of festival best practices in school autonomy from different countries in the context of Ukrainian education transformations. Great networking opportunity allowed to engage in conversations and discuss further assistance to reforms with Ukrainian and international experts. School leadership and teacher training are important ingredients of changes being implemented. In this context it was great to meet with Lilia Hrynevich, former Minister of Education of Ukraine, currently vice-rector at Karazin National university. Under her leadership New Ukrainian School reform was launched and we had great opportunity to discuss further supporting the development of Teacher Training Academy as a Center of Excellence at Karazin university.
Alongside conference, it was great opportunity to meet with leadership of our Ukrainian partner universities. Meetings with leading Ukrainian universities – Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv Polytechnic University, Lviv National Medical University – brought valuable insights about current challenges for HE in Ukraine as well allowed to discuss ideas and projects related to work in rebuilding of Ukraine. It is remarkable that all universities whom we met were participating at Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk to present their ambitious ideas contributing for long term development of their country.
A story presented by rector Denys Shylenko of Donetsk National Technical University, Ukrainian university relocated from war zone for the third time, this time to Lviv region, is another remarkable example of Ukrainian resilience and strength in academic field.
CCG is proud to continue working with UNBROKEN, Ukrainian NGO who is running largest rehabilitation hospital for veterans in Ukraine. Meeting with leadership of UNBROKEN confirmed mutual commitment to work together on scaling their unique experience and strengthening their capacity in training and research fields related to mental health and other related areas. It will be realised though their new established entity – UNBRIKEN University. CCG will further work with this outstanding organisation in supporting to access to Horizon Europe funding, development of training curricular via EBRD grant, connecting UNBROKEN with international partners.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that important decisions are taking place in the field of higher education in Ukraine. Universities mergers initiated, appointment of new leadership in many public universities is taking place. In order to get rid of old habits from soviet past, Ukrainian Government is taking initiative to pilot transformations at universities level based on best practices from other countries – few universities have introduced new model of governance with advisory boards entrusted with strategic competences as well as granting special legal status to selected universities with wider administrative and financial autonomy.