Svitlana Koval, Head of the International Relations Office at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy (BKNUC), has successfully passed the selection process and secured a place in the second cohort of THEA Ukraine Lead (Trainings for Higher Education Administrators and Leaders in Ukraine).

An online introductory seminar held on 14–16 October 2026 marked the beginning of the year-long programme.

THEA Ukraine Lead is a professional development programme focusing on leadership, higher education management, and policy dialogue, designed for senior and middle management staff at Ukrainian universities. It is implemented by Münster University of Applied Sciences (FH Münster, Germany) in partnership with Sumy State University. The programme is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (2025–2029). The second cohort comprises 15 representatives from Ukrainian higher education institutions, including heads of international offices, vice-rectors, and heads of academic departments. The programme covers three key areas: strategic management and change management; leadership and teamwork; and internationalisation and partnership management.

The first day of the seminar opened with a welcome session led by the programme coordinator, Petra Pistor, from Münster University of Applied Sciences, who introduced the programme structure, the mentoring model, and the tools for working on participants’ projects. Subsequently, Professor Frank Ziegele delivered a session entitled “Fundamentals of Strategic Management”. Participants discussed the role of university strategy in times of crisis and why it must be put into practice rather than remain “on paper”. They also explored various approaches to strategic management. An online poll revealed that a planning-based management model currently prevails in Ukrainian universities, whereas most participants expressed a desire to move towards a “learning organisation” model built on active staff engagement.

The second day focused on leadership. Dr Kai Handel outlined the differences between management and leadership, leadership in various contexts, and Daniel Goleman’s leadership styles. Working in groups, participants applied the “competence – motivation” matrix to real-life staffing challenges faced by universities during wartime. A separate session focused on personal values, self-leadership, and developing an individual “leadership manifesto”.

The third day began with a discussion of the participants’ homework. Having completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test, they reflected on how individual personality traits influence their leadership styles. The main theme of the day was higher education in emergency contexts. Speaker Kateryna Suprun presented data on the impact of the war on Ukrainian education, specifically regarding damage to educational institutions, learning losses, and stress levels among students. Participants explored the Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies, as well as two approaches to crisis management: resilience, understood as the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and reliability, referring to an institution’s ability to maintain its core functions during disruptions. Particular attention was also given to funding opportunities for Ukrainian higher education institutions, including programmes offered by the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, DAAD, and Horizon Europe. This topic is directly relevant to BKNUC’s project to establish a dedicated project office. The workshop concluded with sessions on scenario planning and defining next steps, as well as a presentation on crisis management at Sumy State University by Alla Krasulia, Head of the International Relations Office.

Throughout the year, each programme participant will implement an individual change project at their home university. Svitlana Koval is working on a project entitled “Establishing a European Integration and Grants Office at BKNUC”. Its aim is to systematically strengthen the university’s capacity to secure grant funding and prepare it for broader participation in EU programmes, particularly Erasmus+, Jean Monnet, and Horizon Europe. Her participation in the programme and the implementation of the project have been supported by Oleksandr Spriahailo, Vice-Rector for Scientific, Innovation and International Activities.

The participants have been divided into three thematic groups, each supported by a mentor. Svitlana Koval is part of the “Institutional Capacity Building and Operational Systems” group, under the mentorship of Kostiantyn Kyrychenko. The other two groups – “Innovative Academic Practice and Research Ecosystems” and “Strategic Internationalisation and Reform of Educational Programmes” – are mentored by Kateryna Skyba and Olena Tupakhina, respectively.

By the end of October, participants are expected to prepare a Project Action Plan. The next stages include online mentoring sessions, an in-person workshop in Münster, Germany, on 25–28 January 2027, and a final meeting in autumn 2027, where participants will present the outcomes of their projects.

Participation in THEA Ukraine Lead marks an important step in strengthening BKNUC’s international engagement. The programme provides access to contemporary management practices employed by European universities and offers opportunities to build a professional network with colleagues from across Ukraine and Germany.

International Relations Office