Last week witnessed the participation of students hailing from the master’s programs at the UCU Business School in conjunction with MBA students from the renowned Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame for the purpose of receiving training under the aegis of the Meyer Foundation’s «Business on the Frontlines» program, which was conducted in the city of Wrocław. Over the span of the week, the participants worked in concert to develop a range of strategic development projects for the UCU Foundation in Poland. This initiative is committed to the unification and provision of support to the Ukrainian populace residing in Poland, particularly in the city of Wrocław.
Yaryna Boychuk, CEO of UCU Business School, said: «As a result of this collaborative program, participants from both countries gained a unique opportunity to communicate, interact, and empathize with each other. This experience will be beneficial for them in the future, as they can apply this knowledge and perspective to their own attitudes and decision-making. Graduates and students of master’s programs in business schools in the USA and Ukraine have acquired valuable knowledge and critical thinking skills that can contribute to the growth of organizations and businesses of all sizes. The “Business on the Frontlines” program offers students the chance to use their knowledge and abilities to support and develop communities that face challenging situations, often beyond their control. The dedication and willingness of students and professors to contribute their knowledge and efforts to help the Ukrainian community have earned them great respect and admiration, making them feel valued despite the challenging circumstances they face abroad.»
The students from the UCU Business School who participated in the program were Khrystyna Martsinkovska, Sofia Rybytska, Olga Padyak from the master’s program in MSc in Innovations and Entrepreneurship, and Oksana Snitko from the program in MSc in Marketing Management.
«It was interesting for me to observe the difference in the approach to work between MBA students from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and UCU Business School students. It was very valuable to share experiences and investigate the situation with Ukrainians who are forced to live in Poland. We worked on creating a strategic plan for a center for Ukrainians based on UCU’s values. Similar projects make your brain more flexible and broaden your ambitions. I want to extend my special thanks to Yaryna Boichuk, CEO of the UCU Business School, for her mentorship,» shared Sofiya Rybytska about her experience.
«Working on the project for Ukrainian refugees turned out to be impossible without the presence of us, Ukrainians: the issue of mentality was acute, and we had to talk about historical features, explain how education, culture, and work operate in Ukraine compared to the USA. Together with the American students, we validated the mission, helped our colleagues with the audience survey, and deciphered the obtained results. In the end, thanks to joint efforts, everything worked out, and all stakeholders were satisfied. For the team of UCU students, it was a valuable experience that provided insights, new approaches to work, and good networking. Although the project lasted only four days, what each of us took away from it is priceless,» said Khrystyna Martsinkovska about her participation in the program.
Roksolyana Voronovska, the head of the UCU Foundation in Wroclaw, shared her thoughts: «The UCU Center in Wroclaw is in its early stages of activity. Our objective is to serve the Ukrainian community in Poland, facilitate academic cooperation, and promote Ukrainian-Polish dialogue. However, our resources are still limited, so we must identify the primary areas of activity and establish partnerships to work collaboratively. The MBA students from Notre Dame assisted in developing a strategy for the center’s near future. They also provided an outside perspective on our challenges and needs, which was extremely valuable.»
The Business on the Frontlines program aims to build communities affected by conflict, prejudice, poverty, and the illegal economy, which are some of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. The program seeks to discover innovative solutions to complex global issues and create a platform for organizations of diverse backgrounds to collaborate toward building sustainable and thriving communities.
