The Training Programme for Academic Managers is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, implemented by the British Council within the joint Ministry-World Bank project “Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results”.
The programme was designed to strengthen the leadership and management capacity of Ukrainian state higher education institutions, supporting universities to operate effectively, lead institutional change, and respond to current and future challenges.
Programme Objectives
- Strengthen institutional capacity through leadership development
- Transform academic management culture
- Improve internal communication and cross-functional collaboration
- Increase trust and foster a culture of shared responsibility and service
Programme Timeline
April 2025 – April 2026
Target Audience
Mid- to senior-level university managers, including vice-rectors, deans, institute directors, heads of departments, and administrative leaders. Participants were selected through competitive team-based applications from state HEIs subordinated to the Ministry.
Achievements
- 1,000+ university leaders trained
- 95 higher education institutions represented
- 95 institutional change projects developed
- 70 national trainers engaged
- Delivered across 3 locations: Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro
- 4.8/5 participant satisfaction
Programme Content
- Role of Universities in the Context of Social Transformations
- Strategic Management in Times of Uncertainty
- Human Resources Management
- Finances, Resources, and Projects
Programme Format
- Four residential training modules (Tuesday-Friday, every 4-5 weeks)
- Team assignments between modules
- Final presentation of an Institutional Change Project at an international online conference
Delivery partners:
- Dnipro University of Technology (Dnipro)
- Mariupol State University (Kyiv)
- Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv)
Why It Matters
- Strengthens leadership capacity across Ukraine’s state university sector
- Supports modern, transparent and strategic university governance
- Creates a national network of reform-minded university leaders
- Supports long-term higher education recovery and modernisation
Testimonials
“The Training Programme for Academic Managers became an important practical instrument for strengthening the capacity of state higher education institutions. We need university teams that are able not only to administer processes effectively today, but also to lead their institutions through change and challenges in the future systematically, responsibly, and with a clear understanding of long-term goals”
"One of the most valuable elements was definitely strategic planning – we were able to identify our uniqueness, articulate it clearly, and define our strategic goals. This is what we will continue to develop further."
"The programme was extremely valuable for our university. It enabled us to rethink our role within the community, define our future mission, and foresee the near future within the constraints of today’s realities."