UKRAINETT+ PARTNER INSTITUTIONS IN UKRAINE 

The School of Public Management at the Ukrainian Catholic University (SPM UCU)

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With its School of Public Management the Ukrainian Catholic University aims to provide Ukraine with competent leaders in state management, local self-government, and the community sector. The school strives to educate leaders that foster innovative and ethical solutions for societal challenges, secure effective service, good interaction, and contributes to the development of Ukraine. The School of Public Management was founded in 2015. Currently, we have 60 students enrolled in our Master’s program in Public Management and Administration. Our faculty includes 14 full-time lecturers and researchers, as well as 25 part-time academic staff members. Below are our key directions and projects:

  • Educational Programs:
    • Master’s Program in Public Administration: Tailored for professionals in public and local governance.
    • Certification Programs: Topics include leadership development, good governance, health management, and data-driven policy design.
  • Research Initiatives:
    • The School cooperates with international organizations to promote evidence-based governance practices and enhance local resilience.

Educational Programs at the School of Public Management

Master’s Program in Public Management and Administration at UCU

The Master’s Program at the School of Public Management at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) aims to prepare highly qualified public administrators equipped with practical skills and innovative approaches. It focuses on fostering leadership and ethical governance principles essential for modern public administration and local governance. The program is deeply rooted in the values of serving society, promoting trust, and advancing sustainable development in Ukraine.

Key Features:

  • Interdisciplinary Approach: The curriculum combines courses on public policy, management, and leadership with hands-on projects and case studies.
  • Expert Faculty: Participants learn from renowned Ukrainian and international experts, ensuring exposure to global best practices and local challenges.
  • Practical Orientation: Emphasis on real-world applications through internships, project work, and partnerships with public institutions.
  • Focus Areas: Topics range from strategic planning and policy analysis to digital transformation and community development.
  • Program Goals: Graduates are expected to become effective public leaders capable of addressing complex governance challenges, driving institutional reforms, and contributing to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction efforts.

The School of Public Management at the Ukrainian Catholic University offers several certification programs tailored to enhance the students professional skills in governance, leadership, and policy development. Here is an overview:

  1. Leadership Academy for Development (LAD)
    This program focuses on developing leadership skills essential for transformative change, combining theoretical insights with practical tools for effective decision-making in governance and public administration.
  2. Good Governance
    Aimed at public administrators, this program teaches innovative approaches to good governance. It emphasizes transparency, accountability, and participatory decision-making, equipping participants with strategies to implement ethical and effective public policies.
  3. Management in Healthcare
    This four-module program addresses the challenges in healthcare management. It covers policy ecosystems, financial instruments, medical law, and communication strategies to innovate and lead in the healthcare sector.
  4. Data-Based Policy Writing and Visualization
    Designed to enhance policy-making skills, this program trains participants in evidence-based decision-making and the visualization of data to effectively communicate policy outcomes.
  5. Management Development Program
    This program targets mid-level and senior managers, offering insights into strategic planning, operational efficiency, and organizational transformation to foster effective leadership.

Each program combines theoretical and practical learning to empower professionals to address modern challenges in public administration effectively​.

Research projects at the School of Public Management

The School of Public Management at the Ukrainian Catholic University participates in several impactful research projects aimed at addressing contemporary challenges in public administration, governance, and community development. Here are key ongoing initiatives:

  1. Service Learning. This educational model integrates community service with academic learning, providing students with practical experience in solving real-world problems while contributing to societal betterment. The program combines education with a mission-driven approach.
  2. Academic Response to Hybrid Threats (WARN). In collaboration with international partners, this initiative addresses hybrid threats through academic research, aiming to develop strategies for resilience and proactive responses to complex global challenges.
  3. Horizon Europe Research Project: Link4Skills. This collaborative project under the Horizon Europe framework focuses on creating pathways for upskilling and reskilling, emphasizing talent development in alignment with evolving labor market needs.
  4. Enhancing community capacity for reconstruction through piloting their interaction with universities. The project involves cooperation between universities and communities in Ukraine to heal the wounds of war and support post-war reconstruction, aiming to promote community self-reliance, mobilize human capital, and implement educational programs oriented towards addressing community needs. Such collaboration during the implementation of community-developed projects, along with advisory support from university experts, contributes to economic development, cohesion across different social groups, and more effective integration of theory with practice. By fostering innovation, improving entrepreneurial skills, and project management capacity, this project stimulates job creation and more efficient governance.

Cooperation with Norwegian research institutions

E-governance and E-democracy (E-GOVLOG). The project’s goal was to develop e-governance and a digital society to support ongoing reforms and local democracy in Ukraine. The project’s partners included the School of Public Management at UCU, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), and the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Governance. It built on a long-term collaboration between Norwegian and Ukrainian academics to strengthen local governance capacity. The initiative offered various educational activities, including faculty and student mobility (both long-term and short-term internships), the development of joint courses, the creation of a certification program in e-governance and e-democracy, and the organization of international summer schools. Duration: 2018–2022.

For more detailed information, visit the School of Public Management’s page.

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