The development of a modern university is impossible without leaders who are ready to rethink management approaches and shape a new culture within the educational environment. This idea became the foundation of the program «Development of University Leaders: Strengthening Competencies to Improve the Quality of Educational Products,» designed for program directors at Lviv Polytechnic National University. The UCU Business School organized the program at the initiative and with the active support of Taras Kytsmey, co-founder of SoftServe and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lviv Polytechnic National University.
Throughout the program, academic program directors, institute directors, and department heads from Lviv Polytechnic worked on real cases and practical management tools, discussed the experiences of other universities, and developed their own projects to advance educational programs.
The learning modules focused on:
- strategic development of universities and academic programs;
- design and quality of educational products;
- marketing of educational programs and stakeholder engagement;
- financial management of programs;
- leadership, team management, and faculty development.
The program concluded with project presentations, during which participants showcased their proposed solutions to improve their academic programs. They developed clear profiles of prospective students, detailed program budgets, and updated graduate profiles—modern professionals capable of competing in the global labor market. The strategies developed during the program are already ready for implementation within the university.
Yevheniia Kralenkova, Head of Corporate Programs at UCU Business School, noted: «Today, every educational institution faces the challenge of recruiting students for bachelor’s and master’s programs due to the demographic crisis and the outflow of young people, potential applicants. That is why joint initiatives between academia and business are becoming increasingly important. They help universities better understand prospective students, build effective communication, and respond quickly to market needs.»
We thank the team of Lviv Polytechnic National University, particularly Rector Nataliia Shakhovska, for their trust, openness to dialogue, and collaboration in advancing Ukrainian higher education. The University Leaders Development Program became a space where academic leaders could not only reflect on the challenges facing modern education but also develop concrete solutions to advance their programs and the broader academic community.
Photos: Communications Center of Lviv Polytechnic National University
