The Presidential Fund of Ukraine and Activitis Education to Digitize Interaction with Talented Youth and Develop the Foreign Professors Engagement Program

The Presidential Fund of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science and Sports and Activitis Education signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The strategic partnership establishes areas of joint work to develop programs supporting talented youth, digitize certain processes of interaction with the Fund's program participants, and continue international educational initiatives such as the UK–UA Visiting Professors Programme.

The cooperation involves coordinating efforts in programs and projects aimed at supporting intellectually gifted youth, expanding educational opportunities, encouraging academic achievements, internationalizing higher education, and exchanging experience.

A separate area of the Memorandum concerns joint work on creating digital products for the Fund's interaction with talented youth. Such a system should assist in consistent work with talents: from identification and support to engaging young people in educational, scientific, international, and career opportunities.

"We work with young people who already have strong results and need the next step: quality programs, international experience, and a clear career path. Cooperation and support from Ukrainian business will help us develop and scale our programs, create digital solutions, and interact even more effectively with our talents. For young people, this means fewer barriers and more opportunities and clear development pathways in Ukraine," noted Olha Budnyk, Advisor-Representative of the President of Ukraine on the Presidential Fund of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science and Sports.

Another part of the cooperation concerns the development of the Fund's already launched program for attracting foreign professors to Ukrainian universities. The existing UK–UA Visiting Professors Programme gives Ukrainian higher education institutions the opportunity to invite professors from leading British universities and provide students with access to modern academic approaches, international expertise, and direct contact with foreign lecturers without leaving Ukraine.

"For the Presidential Fund, this partnership is important for implementing specific projects and initiatives so that talented youth have more reasons to study, develop, and build professional careers in Ukraine. Youth are an important part of Ukraine's resilience and recovery," emphasized Yurii Petrushenko, Director of the Presidential Fund of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science and Sports.

The partnership with Activitis Education will help the Fund prepare the next stage of the program. This will allow foreign professors to be invited to Ukrainian universities again in the fall-winter semester and expand international learning opportunities for students in Ukraine.

"At Activitis Education, we have long been working in the area of professional education for youth and providing them with practical skills. Together with the Presidential Fund of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science and Sports, this area of work will reach a new level. We will support and strengthen the strong—invest in the best. Thanks to the Fund's expertise, resources will be directed to truly important and effective initiatives that help develop the country's human capital," said Kateryna Zhukovska, Head of the Education Development and Partnerships Center at Activitis Education.

For Ukraine, this cooperation is part of broader work to preserve and develop talent. During Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the country needs young people who study, research, create new solutions, remain in the Ukrainian educational and professional ecosystem, and gain international experience within the country.

Background

The Presidential Fund of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science and Sports was created to develop and support talented youth, preserve, restore, and realize Ukraine's human potential. The Fund's main areas of activity include supporting youth education in Ukraine, internships, participation in international scientific and practical seminars and conferences, attracting foreign professors to work in Ukrainian educational and scientific institutions, and encouraging youth for achievements in educational, scientific, and sports activities.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Fund has been developing programs that strengthen Ukrainian education, science, and sports through international partnerships, business engagement, educational diplomacy, digital tools, and support for talented youth. Areas of work include: payment of Presidential scholarships and awards, Twinning, UK-UA dual degree programs, development of a safe educational environment, programs for university management teams, UK-UA STEM PRO, UK-UA Visiting Professors Programme.

Activitis Education is the educational division of the Activitis fintech infrastructure, focused on developing financial and business literacy among entrepreneurs and students, as well as providing access to knowledge for people with hearing impairments.

The division combines practical training, expert lectures, partner educational formats, youth internships, and inclusive initiatives.

Source: Presidential Fund of Ukraine