The new academic year at the UCU Business School began with great energy and inspiration. This year, 86 students joined the School’s master’s programs — among them veterans, military personnel, clergy, and motivated professionals from business, government, and other sectors. They will study in four programs: Key Executive MBA, MSc in Managing Impact-Driven Organizations, MSc in Innovations and Entrepreneurship, and MSc in Marketing Management.
Opening the new academic season, Yaryna Boichuk, CEO of the UCU Business School, addressed the students with words of encouragement:
“I know that each of you has shown great resilience in making this decision — to move forward despite everything. You are united by one big dream: an independent and prosperous Ukraine. But it’s not enough to dream — you have to act! And to act effectively, you need the right skills, ideally combined with your passions and goals. I’m confident that the UCU Business School will be the place where you achieve the results you’ve always dreamed of.”
After the official greeting, the students took part in a panel discussion aimed at helping them better understand the university’s mission and values. The speakers included former UCU rector Dr. Bohdan Prach, Vice-Rector for Development and Communications Nataliia Klymovska, First Vice-Rector Yaroslav Prytula, and Iryna Tymoshenko-Petrova — an expert in strategic planning, graduate, and lecturer at the Business School. The discussion was moderated by Academic Director Natalia Oboznienko.
Father Bohdan Prach shared stories about UCU’s early days, recalling how, during Soviet times, the Church was viewed as a closed institution that had no place in public life — yet the Theological Academy, which later became the Ukrainian Catholic University, proved otherwise. “No matter what faculty you graduate from, your diploma says one thing — these people can be trusted. They know how to live with dignity and strive to change the world guided by their values. For us, the human person is at the center of everything — unique, worthy, and free,” he said. Reflecting on UCU’s roots, he added: “We were Ukraine. We dreamed of Ukraine. We prepared to live for and serve Ukraine, to be its ambassadors all our lives.”
Vice-Rector Nataliia Klymovska shared her first impressions of Bishop Borys Gudziak, recalling her surprise that “a university could be built from a three-room apartment.” She noted that UCU’s success was made possible by leaders “from the free world” and a “big dream realized through systematic work.” Reflecting on what defines UCU, she emphasized trust, gratitude, and the power of community: “After 30 years of our work, donors tell us they value us most for trust — and for transforming higher education in Ukraine. We bring together very different people and environments. Community is our value, and we deeply cherish it.”
First Vice-Rector Yaroslav Prytula remembered moments that shaped his perception of the university: “When Bishop Borys’s 50th birthday was celebrated, there was a rock concert at the university. I thought, ‘This can’t be happening — this is a temple of knowledge!’ And then Bishop Borys said we have a 50-year strategy for UCU. That moment showed me — a miracle was unfolding before my eyes.” He added that perseverance is key: “No matter how bad things seem, even in the hardest times, you have to keep working — and working hard. Only then will the results come.”
Graduate and now lecturer Iryna Tymoshenko-Petrova recalled her first encounter with UCU values: “When I arrived for my exams, the first thing they asked was whether I was tired, if I wanted coffee or tea, if I needed a break. I had never seen such care before. Studying here means being in a space where people see you, value you, and truly want to connect.”
The day concluded with greetings from the speakers and an invitation to the Divine Liturgy celebrating the Feast of the Protection of the Holy Mother of God. Afterwards, students met with program directors, alumni, and peers to exchange experiences, build connections, and set goals for the next two academic years.
