Protect human capital: can education retain youth in Ukraine?
The demographic situation in our country is critical, however, even in the conditions of war and security threats, 1.3 million teenagers aged 13 to 16 live and study in Ukraine. This is human capital, which should be developed by the joint efforts of the state, civil society institutions and international support. Read more about it in the article.
70% of Ukrainian teenagers (ages 13–16) cannot name the profession they would like to work in when they are 30 years old. And every fifth schoolchild (20%) has not yet thought about his future career. At the same time, 25% of teenagers are considering the possibility of going abroad.
The situation is disappointing, because the state is rapidly losing human capital. And every 4th child thinking about leaving is a signal: it is necessary to create better conditions in education and open real perspectives for the realization of youth.
To support the child in his choice of the future, to give access to modern technologies and innovative knowledge. And most importantly, to show that living in Ukraine is a value, an opportunity and an endless potential. Moreover, 82% of the surveyed teenagers remain optimistic about their own future, and 60% about the future of Ukraine.
4 out of 5 high school students of Lviv Oblast consider knowledge of the history of Ukraine important, but only 55% are interested in studying it in the school format. FAMA 83% of schoolchildren feel proud of the country, 63% are oriented towards life in Ukraine – these are the data of another study conducted in the Lviv region.
That is, the majority of high school students in Lviv Oblast feel proud of their country and plan to stay at home. In order not to lose this potential, education must become more interesting, interactive and technologically modern. Secondary, vocational and higher schools should become a real “hook”, a motivator to stay in the state, develop and build one’s future in Ukraine.
The non-governmental organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” implemented a large-scale educational project with the support of Taiwan in 2024-2025 “Leave no one behind partnership”, which directly responds to the challenges identified in these surveys.
“96 schools in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava regions received modern technical equipment for computer science classrooms. 33 teachers upgraded their qualifications at UCU in programming, robotics, and STEM. We organized and held 24 entrepreneurship and innovation camps for young people, which reached 743 high school students from 72 schools,” – the head of the organization’s board draws attention to the results of the project Iryna Handzyuk.
According to her, such initiatives help the state and strengthen it. After all, in the conditions of martial law, education receives less funding than necessary. Therefore, the support of foreign partners, assistance for educational initiatives is actually an investment in the future, in the development of the country. And it is not only about knowledge, but also about preserving human capital.
The founder of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” Mykola Kniazhytskyi emphasizes that the goal of the Russians is to force Ukrainians to emigrate from their country or assimilate. They want our education, our industry, our lives destroyed.
“This is both a challenge and an opportunity. Ukraine needs a unified policy of demographic recovery after the war, a clear strategy and effective tools,” Kniazhytskyi emphasizes. “The cooperation of the NGO All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum with Taiwan in training schoolchildren and teachers, computerization of schools is only a small part of a big strategic goal: to preserve human capital and give children a future in Ukraine.”
The text uses data from the Future Index study initiated by the Olena Zelenska Foundation in cooperation with the KSE Institute and UNICEF (10,178 respondents were surveyed online in March 2025) and the survey conducted by the Fama Research Agency on the order of the Lviv Oblast Military Administration and with the support of the Kapitel Private Enterprise within the framework of the Regional Program for Promoting the Development of Information Space and Civil Society in the Lviv Oblast 2021-2025 years.
NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” expands partnership with Taiwan
Iryna Handzyuk, head of the board of the All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum public organization, visited Taiwan as part of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation. During the meetings, joint projects for the development of education and innovation in Ukraine were discussed, in particular the successful charitable project “Leave no one behind partnership”, thanks to which about 65 thousand Ukrainian schoolchildren got access to modern Taiwanese equipment.
An inter-factional group of Ukrainian parliamentarians, headed by Mykola Kniazhytskyi, made the first official visit to Taiwan in two decades. The delegation also includes People’s Deputies of Ukraine Inna Sovsun, Svyatoslav Yurash, Ivan Krulko, Valery Lunchenko, Andriy Lopushanskyi, Viktor Bondar.
With a working visit, representatives of Ukraine visited the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the city of Taichung, and took part in the forum on security issues “Katagalan Forum: 2025 Info-Pacific Security Dialogue”. During meetings with the president of Taiwan, diplomats, and government officials, the future economic cooperation of both countries and the strengthening of the democratic alliance in the world were discussed.
During the meeting with the guests, the President of Taiwan Lai Tsinde noted that this visit will be the beginning of new relations between the two states. Official website The Office of the President of Taiwan quotes his greeting: “Your truly meaningful visit symbolizes the deepening of friendship between Taiwan and Ukraine and underscores our common commitment to the pursuit of freedom and peace.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, Lin Chia-Lung, emphasized that his country actively cooperates with European countries, helping Ukraine in the reconstruction and implementation of programs. Taiwan is interested in future cooperation in the fields of talent development, trade, technology.
The Ukrainian delegation visited technological parks, companies working in the field of innovation, modern medical and rehabilitation facilities.
With the support of Taiwan and the assistance of Mykola Kniazhytskyi, the public organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” has already implemented a large-scale innovative education and computerization project “Leave no one behind partnership” in Ukraine this year. 96 Ukrainian schools received new computer equipment and robotics. At the same time, 33 informatics teachers upgraded their qualifications, and high school students from 72 schools studied entrepreneurship. About 65,000 students have already benefited from the project, and they will be able to work in classrooms with modern equipment from the new school year.
“We are grateful to our Taiwanese partners for making technology accessible to our youth, understanding the need and attracting resources to help Ukraine. Accordingly, we are ready to expand cooperation, offer new ideas for socially important projects, seek to attract and modernize more educational institutions, train children and teachers, and change communities. We talked about the results and joint plans during meaningful meetings with our friends in Taiwan,” concluded Iryna Handzyuk.
Media, European values, security: Ukrainian journalists studied the experience of Poland
Editors of national and regional Ukrainian mass media visited the Republic of Poland. Representatives of the Ukrainian media visited the editorial offices of the leading Polish media, talked with European diplomats and experts in order to strengthen professional ties and discuss common challenges in the field of information security.
It was an introductory visit to Warsaw, with the aim of strengthening professional ties, discussing common challenges in the field of information security and studying the European integration experience of the neighboring state. The organizers of the visit are the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” and Fundacja Geremka. The trip took place within the Study Tour to Poland – Study Visits in Poland 2025–2027 program, with the support of Fundacja Liderzy Przemian and the Polish-American Freedom Foundation.
According to the Chairman of the Board of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” Iryna Handzyuk, it is important for civil society and journalists of both countries to establish contacts: “When we exchange opinions and experiences, we become stronger, get the opportunity to react in time, qualitatively influence the formation of public opinion, promptly inform various audiences, expand cooperation in various areas. In this way, we effectively counteract propaganda, fakes, fill the information space useful content”.
Journalists from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Bila Tserkva, Sumy, Odesa talked with representatives of organizations that actively support Ukraine in the struggle for freedom and European values. The focus was on issues of values, information security and the role of the media in the processes of democratic transformations. In particular, the members of the delegation visited the office of the Bronislav Geremko Foundation, met with the director of the “Ukrainian House” Foundation, Myroslava Keryk, and visited the office of the Representation of the European Commission in Poland.
A separate part of the program included visits to the editorial offices of well-known Polish mass media, in particular TVP World, SlavaTV, Rzeczpospolita, Gazeta Wyborcza, communication with authoritative journalists, politicians, and officials.
Magdalena Witvytska, vice-president of the board of the Bronislav Geremka Foundation, emphasized the importance of good neighborliness between Ukraine and Poland, as well as the development of a common safe information space.
“We started our visit with meetings in the editorial offices of the largest Polish publications. In the headquarters of Gazeta Wyborcza, we talked with the deputy editor-in-chief Jarosław Kurski, and in the editorial office of Rzeczpospolita with the editor-in-chief Michal Šuljinski. During the meeting with the State Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Ignatius Niemczycki, they discussed Poland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union,” says the Geremka Foundation’s page.
The journalists also talked with the press officers of the European Parliament and European Commission representations in Poland, visited the Euro Multimedia Center, and met their colleagues in Poland – journalists Olena Babakova and Anna Rokichinska.
The importance of interpersonal contacts, dialogue and solidarity was also discussed during the conversation with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Bodnar.
On behalf of the Ukrainian organizers, Iryna Handzyuk thanked the Polish partners for the rich program of the visit, a number of meaningful meetings and friendly communication.
“After this visit to Warsaw, each participant was enriched culturally, with friendly contacts and professional knowledge. We greatly appreciate the support and will continue to introduce Ukrainian and Polish professionals, active youth and develop a network of interaction in the cultural, informational, educational and other spheres”, – stressed the Chairman of the Board of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum”
Taiwan invested $1 million in the computerization of Ukrainian schools
96 schools from the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava regions, where more than 65,000 students study, received new equipment for computer science classrooms and robotics laboratories. 33 computer science teachers advanced their qualifications in STEM teaching, Python programming, and robotics. High school students from 72 schools gained practical experience in teamwork, startup development, and business negotiations.
A year ago, democratic Taiwan supported Ukrainian youth and school education. One million dollars of charitable assistance within the framework of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project was directed to innovative training and equipment for school computer science classrooms in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions.
“After visiting Taiwan, I offered my colleagues partnership and cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. After all, this is a country with extremely developed technologies. It is worth borrowing their experience, teaching Ukrainian youth innovatively. Our Taiwanese partners liked this idea, and the non-governmental organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” started a charitable project of innovative education and computerization “Leave no one out of partnership”. It was important not only to give schools much-needed modern computers and sets robotics, but also to give unique knowledge to children, improve the qualifications of teachers and thus improve the quality of education,” Kniazhytskyi said.
143 schools applied for participation in the project. Two computer science teachers each from 24 schools were selected to participate in the specially developed first educational program “Code&Create” at the Ukrainian Catholic University. Having successfully completed their studies at UCU, educators received certificates of advanced training and sets of new equipment: laptops, robotics sets, projectors with screens for each school. Another part of the schools was involved in a separate educational direction of the project – entrepreneurship and innovation camps. Teams of high school students studied the methodology of design thinking, the canvas of business models and the art of business negotiations.
“Every time at the camps, teenagers surprised with their activity and innovative solutions. For example, proposals for the production of VR glasses for learning, covers for gadgets with air pollution indicators, smart bottles that will remind you to drink water, as well as hotels for animals, ecological farms, drone systems for watering fields and other interesting and useful ideas”, – shares the impressions of the project coordinator Ulyana Pak.
According to her, teachers trained at UCU have already created their own community and are ready to share their experience, knowledge, and the latest teaching methods with colleagues from other schools.
With Taiwan’s support, 96 schools with more than 65,000 students were covered with innovative learning and computerized. These are educational institutions from urban and rural communities, from mountainous areas. All participating schools of the Ukrainian-Taiwan project “Leave no one behind partnership” received new computer science classrooms.
“Technology should be equally accessible to all children,” emphasizes Mykola Kniazhytskyi. “We handed over 1,248 laptops and 420 sets of robotics to schools. The goals of the project have been achieved: from the new school year, students will work with modern technology, and teachers will motivate young people to study information technologies. We have received a lot of feedback and wishes from educational institutions: many more schools need support and new of knowledge. We are working to ensure that the project continues and even expands somewhat. We thank Taiwan for the opportunity to develop young people with technologies and democratic values.”
Ukrainian-Taiwan project: teachers, students, communities together for innovative education
Participation in the international project of computerization and innovative education united schools, teachers, students and entire communities. Thanks to the “Leave no one behind partnership”, modern technology appeared in the school computer labs, teachers improved their qualifications, and children learned to create startups, work in teams and implement their ideas. The project started in June last year and covered 96 educational institutions. Read more about the success stories of teachers and students.
“Since June 2024, we have been collecting applications from computer science teachers from Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava regions. 143 educational institutions applied for participation in the project, which exceeded our expectations and capabilities. After competitive selection, educators from 20 schools upgraded their qualifications at UCU, and student teams from 76 schools studied at entrepreneurship and innovation camps. Under the terms of the project, participating schools receive equipment sets for computer science classrooms. In order to computerize more schools, we held an additional competition among educational institutions of the Lviv region. In the selection, 5 student teams won, which prepared videos about innovations in their schools and collected the most reactions to the video in social networks,” explains the coordinator of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project, Ulyana Pak.
Oksana Solodkevich is a computer science teacher at the Tvirzhan secondary education institution of the Mosty city council. She became interested in studying programming, STEM and robotics. And most importantly, she was attracted by the opportunity to acquire new equipment for the school.
“I was not afraid of the difficulty of studying, I was ready to learn something new, because this is a technological development for the school. I applied for participation in training. At first we did not get into the project. But I still had a firm belief that the school would receive the technology,” the teacher says. She followed the pages of the project, watched how other schools received computers and immediately reacted to the announcement of an additional recruitment of participants in entrepreneurship camps.
“I needed the support of the children. And I saw that their eyes also “lit up” from such an idea. We made a video, spread the word, and the whole community rallied around us. We rallied for the children. After all, new computers mean high-quality knowledge and the development of young people,” the educator recalls.
The head of the Mostysk community, Myroslava Pelts, said that the new equipment at the school is the merit of the school’s active teachers.
“We got involved as a whole community to support the school. All events organized in Tvirzh are always very interesting, meaningful and successful. As a community, we take care to improve the quality of our children’s education, so that our youth return from abroad to win intellectual and educational competitions. Participation in the entrepreneurship camp of schoolchildren from Tvirža and the new computer science office at the school motivates and inspires others to action,” Myroslava Pelts concluded.
The stem laboratory is being set up in Lyceum No. 52 of the Lviv City Council. Informatics teacher Viktor Matseha, together with teachers from 20 schools, studied under the first educational program “Code & Create” at the Ukrainian Catholic University. Therefore, with his efforts, he obtained 16 laptops, 16 sets of robotics and a projector with a screen for the school.
“Education within the project “Leave no one behind partnership” consisted of three sessions with lectures and exams. The tasks were individual, and there was teamwork. All of us were anxious to reach the finals and receive a reward – a valuable technique,” says Victor Matsekha.
Teachers and students of Lviv Secondary School No. 91 are actively applying for projects on student self-government and social entrepreneurship. They are now using the knowledge gained at the entrepreneurship camp in the current school project “Workshop of Emotions and Taste”. Pupils make lozenges, dried fruits, teas and even cookies.
Tenth-grader Marta Turkevich admits that she went to the entrepreneurship and innovation camp with some doubts. But the very next day, it was difficult for her to part with new friends of the same age from other schools:
“There were bright participants, different ideas, we worked with ChatGPT, learned to negotiate, set up communication with competitors. These were very interesting classes, time passes, and I still remember this experience,” says the schoolgirl.
1,400 students study in secondary comprehensive school #99. Computer science and robotics teacher Svitlana Yakymiv-Tkach explained that a set of new laptops is planned to be used for open-air lessons, on the street.
“So that children learn to explore the world around them, to design anything. We have introduced robotics as a subject since the 5th grade, once a week. Recently, on May 17, the All-Ukrainian Robotics Olympiad was held in Lviv. Our school was represented there by three student teams, they took the second, third and fourth places. Without a doubt, with modern computers, we will get more opportunities, skills and victories.”
The project is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan. People’s deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi became the initiator of attracting international aid to Ukrainian education.
“This project is extremely useful for education, for the future. And we are grateful to the government and people of Taiwan for their support and resources aimed at developing the intellectual potential of our youth. We managed to give valuable knowledge and transfer equipment to 96 schools from three regions. We receive a lot of positive feedback from teachers and residents of various communities. Therefore, we are continuing negotiations with partners about the continuation and expansion of this initiative,” Mykola Kniazhytskyi emphasized.
School computerization through education: How students and teachers gained modern computer labs
Transferring innovative knowledge to students and teachers and computerizing as many schools as possible is the goal of the Ukrainian-Taiwanese project “Leave no one behind partnership”. Schools participating in entrepreneurship and innovation camps or teacher training programs receive certificates for sets of technical equipment for computer science classrooms. Certificates for new equipment for computer classes were received by students of Truskavets School No. 3 and Tvirzhansk General Secondary Education Grades I-III of the Mostysk City Council. They took part in an additional entrepreneurship and innovation camp.
“Equipment for computer science classrooms and robotic laboratories is already being received by schools whose students and teachers have successfully completed training under the educational programs of the project. We accumulated resources and were able to additionally involve 5 more schools in the project. They will also receive equipment. The greatest result of the project is the joint responsibility of teachers, students, parents, and the community. It’s about trust, creating a comfortable modern space in schools and creating an intellectual educational community,” emphasized project coordinator Ulyana Pak.
“It was interesting to study entrepreneurship at the camp,” Anastasya Yertym, a 10th-grade student of the Tvirzhan Secondary School, shared her impressions. – Each of us will need the ability to negotiate, seek compromises, creative and design thinking in the future. Therefore, everything that the coach told us was useful and interesting.”
Even last year, the teachers of the Tvirzhan school applied for participation in the innovative education and computerization project “Leave no one behind in the partnership”. Then it was not possible to get to the finals, but persistent teachers kept an eye on it pages project in social networks. As soon as they learned about the additional set of participants, they took part in the competition together with the students.
“Thanks to the activity of teachers, children and the whole community, we entered the top five winners,” recalls Ivanna Shcherbata, director of the Tvirzhan Educational Institution. – We were motivated by the desire to get new equipment for the school, a set of new laptops with which each child can study individually. With modern technology, we implement many more student initiatives.”
Director of secondary comprehensive school No. 3 in Truskavets, Ihor Letsyuk, also noted that the computer classes at the school have long been dreamed of being updated.
“Thank you to the team of students and teachers who prepared an original video clip about our school and won the additional selection. We wanted everyone to see the school through the eyes of a first grader. A child who enters school expecting something new. With modern computers, our institution will interest even more children and provide them with interesting learning,” the director is convinced.
In total, five schools from Lviv Oblast became participants in two additional entrepreneurship and innovation camps. The educational project “Leave no one behind” is implemented by the public organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of the government of Taiwan. People’s deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi attracted charitable aid from Taiwan to Ukrainian education and emphasizes that the results of the project will be long-lasting.
“Thanks to our international partners, students from almost a hundred schools will study in updated computer science classrooms. We plan to computerize schools in the future, as well as improve the qualifications of teachers to develop STEM education and robotics. Technologies are necessary for the recovery and economic strengthening of our country. Therefore, we are already giving children innovative knowledge and the opportunity to practically work with technology in lessons. After school, young people will develop information technologies, engineering, create innovative businesses and stay to live and work in Ukraine,” said Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
Lviv schools are modernizing the educational process thanks to the support of Taiwan
Almost a hundred schools, including many from Lviv, are involved in the Ukrainian-Taiwan project of innovative education and computerization “Leave no one behind partnership”. Students and teachers receive new technology, learn about entrepreneurship and technology, develop STEM and introduce robotics
Lviv Academic Gymnasium is 240 years old. It was founded in 1784, so it is the oldest. Evgeny Petrushevich, Roman Shukhevich and many famous Ukrainians of different generations studied here. A modern educational institution with a long history has an official community of graduates who actively communicate and share their life successes with young people. Recently, high school students took part in the entrepreneurship and innovation camp of the Leave no one behind partnership project and enriched their computer science room with a set of new laptops.
“We were taught the basic concepts of business. The gymnasium team proposed an innovative business model for the production of modules that could be attached to drones. This would make drones universal, suitable for use in various fields,” recalls gymnasium student Oleksiy Kurets.
“In the age of information technologies, the Lviv Academic Gymnasium is among the leaders in terms of the quality of education. Together with other Lviv schools and the Lviv Polytechnic University, we are developing a STEM education project, and we are also starting a robotics circle. New laptops will increase our educational opportunities,” said the director of the gymnasium, Lesya Yukhman.
At the beginning of the academic year, on September 4, Lviv Lyceum No. 17 was hit by enemy shelling. The shock wave caused great damage to the premises of the educational institution. The wall between the two classrooms of the lyceum cracked and collapsed.
“Overnight, we closed all the windows as best we could so that the children could come to study,” recalls the director of the lyceum, Iryna Lunyova.
Since then, 111 windows and almost all doors have been restored. The educational process continues, children gain knowledge, and teachers find opportunities to modernize the institution.
Two computer science teachers Bohdan Revutskyi and Tetyana Tayuzhyn participated in the first educational program “Leave no one behind partnership” and obtained 16 laptops, 16 sets of robots, a projector and a screen for the lyceum.
“The knowledge we gained during the lectures at the Ukrainian Catholic University is very helpful. This experience is useful. I saw how experienced teachers teach,” emphasizes Bohdan Revutskyi.
Among the participants of the Ukrainian-Taiwan project of innovative education and computerization are teachers who came to Lviv to escape the war. Olena Gula comes from Crimea. She quickly learned the Ukrainian language and has been teaching informatics and physics at the Sheptytsky gymnasium for three years. Together with a colleague, Nadia Kalmuk, they tried their hand at an innovative education project. The teachers passed the competitive selection process and spent seven months improving their qualifications at UKU.
“When we found out that the gymnasium would receive a set of modern equipment, we immediately started setting up a new computer science and robotics room. It’s a joy that we can show the children more, give them new knowledge. We even have an agreement with the teachers of the different schools we studied with to make a telebridge and systematically communicate about our work with robotics,” the teacher said.
“Coordinator of the project “Leave no one behind partnership” Ulyana Pak concludes that studying in the Ukrainian
teachers from 20 schools graduated from the Catholic University. According to a separate direction, high school students studied in camps
entrepreneurship. Now all schools participating in the project receive sets of technical equipment free of charge.
“We have already handed over equipment to schools located in Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions. Now we are visiting Lviv schools with gifts. Project participants from Poltava and Kremenchuk are still waiting for equipment. We are very grateful that thanks to Taiwan we have the opportunity to make such good changes in education and computerize schools,” shares Ulyana
Pak.
The project is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum”. The founder of the organization, People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi, during meetings with schoolchildren, always emphasizes the importance of innovative knowledge.
“The task of every student is to make himself strong. With his knowledge, new skills. Stay in Ukraine, create strong centers, business, public organizations. This is what makes a strong state. After all, the state is people, – emphasizes Mykola Kniazhytskyi. – Taiwan openly helps Ukraine. With the help of partners, we offer our children to be active, we give computers and robots so that young people can create and develop. Joint projects contribute to our development and democratization.”
STEM laboratories and robotics: schools from Busk and Brody received equipment worth half a million
A modern computerized computer science office is being set up in the gymnasium named after Yevhen Petrushevich at the Ivan Franko LNU of the Buska City Council. The educational institution is planned to be transformed into an academic lyceum. Funds were allocated from the community budget for classroom repairs, and computer science teachers Nadiya Rapava and Taras Shevtsiv got a set of new laptops and robotics from the “Leave no one behind partnership” project.
Last year, teachers applied for participation in the Ukrainian-Taiwan project of innovative education and computerization “Leave no one behind in partnership” and spent seven months improving their qualifications at the Ukrainian Catholic University.
“Many specialties are related to the IT field. In order to teach students, modern teachers must improve. Thanks to participation in the first educational program for informatics teachers, we know how to change the approach to teaching and motivate students,” said teacher Nadiya Rapava.
Schools whose teachers have successfully completed all stages of the project receive sets of modern technology for computer science classrooms – 16 laptops, 16 sets of robotics and a projector with a screen.
“We transferred the equipment to the gymnasium named after Yevhen Petrushevich of the Buska City Council and to the gymnasium named after Ivana Trusha of the Brodiv City Council, – said project coordinator Ulyana Pak. We hope that active teachers, who now know the unique teaching methods of STEM, programming and robotics, will make the new classrooms centers of innovative learning and communication for students and educators.”
In general, teachers from 20 schools of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions took part in the “Leave no one behind partnership” project. The cost of a set of equipment donated to each school is half a million hryvnias.
Director of the Brodivsk Gymnasium named after Yaroslav Kit of Ivana Trusha said that the new equipment was very much awaited. “Our institution will become a lyceum with several profiles, in particular physical and mathematical, biological. Now we can open a new STEM laboratory and a robotics room, and this is a very good motivation for students and teachers in our community.”
According to the participant of the educational program, informatics teacher Nataliya Zadorozhniak, teachers will be able to better explain programming to children, because with the robot in their hands, the result is immediately visible. “I hope that many of our students will choose careers related to engineering and programming. My colleague Nazarii Krutyak and I are very grateful for the rich experience and for the community of teachers formed by this project.”
Teachers from three regions got to know each other and worked together, preparing for exams. In addition to teachers, UCU students were also mentors during training. This is how interaction took place between different generations of participants interested in informatics.
“We received support for the implementation of the educational project from Taiwan. Thanks to our partners, we are giving schools laptops with artificial intelligence, robotics, and most importantly, qualitative changes for children’s education,” says People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi, with whose help international aid was attracted and directed to the education sector.
Under a separate direction of the project, high school students are taught entrepreneurship and innovation. In general, within the framework of the first educational program, almost a hundred schools are being computerized. The project is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum”.
“We understand that technology is the future. To be successful and strong, we must constantly learn and develop. Everyone gets the basis of knowledge at school. That is why Ukrainian education should become a space of ideas, creativity, with technology, with wise mentors”, emphasizes the founder of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
A modern computer lab at Yavoriv school: Two teachers secured new teaching methods, laptops and robotics equipment
In June of last year, computer science teachers from Yavorivsk General Secondary Education No. 2 applied for participation in the innovative education and computerization project “Leave no one behind partnership”. Then there were studies, exams, project defense at the Ukrainian Catholic University. A total of 33 teachers from Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava regions upgraded their qualifications and mastered modern STEM teaching methods, robotics, and Python. Now teachers receive equipment for their schools and share the latest skills and experience with their colleagues.
“We are part of a lifelong learning society. A computer science teacher is obliged to constantly learn, because information technologies are rapidly developing and these are radical changes,” says computer science teacher Nadiya Manko. She has been working at the school for many years, is a co-author of a computer science textbook and methodical publications for teachers. Pupils of Nadiya Manko win the All-Ukrainian Olympics in information technology and programming.
“Today’s children type code for and issue a ready-made program in a few minutes, which I used to write for more than three hours. Of course, they use artificial intelligence and this is also a skill. My task is to motivate children so that they want to think independently, set goals correctly. I always ask: what is more important to you, to give the teacher an answer right away, or to learn to create something of your own, to understand the process?” Nadiya Manko emphasizes.
Yurii Megel, a resident of Yavoriv last year, won first place among tenth graders at the regional Olympiad. This year, he took part in the All-Ukrainian Online Olympiad in Information Technologies. Satisfied with his results, he did not turn to tutors – he says that school computer science teachers helped him in everything. Teacher Andrii Manko explains the high success rate of his pupils by hard work.
“It will not be possible to extract the subject of informatics from books,” the teacher notes. The child must understand this direction. If students are interested in computer science, they need a foundation, an example from the teacher, and a technically equipped office from the school.
Then logical thinking develops, children perform increasingly difficult tasks and achieve results.”
A set of new equipment for the computer science office – 16 laptops, 16 sets of robotics and a projector with a screen for the school was brought by Ulyana Pak, the coordinator of the Ukrainian-Taiwan educational project.
“Within the project, two computer science teachers from 24 schools were selected to study at the Ukrainian Catholic University. I would like to note that the task was not easy and it was an additional burden on teachers during the school year. They studied modern methods, programmed robots. 33 teachers from 20 schools reached the finals. We are convinced that now the new technology will be used very effectively by teachers. Many children will get the maximum benefit from our project – this is new knowledge, victories in competitions and confidence,” explained Ulyana Pak.
According to Oksana Bamburova, director of the Yavoriv Institute of General Secondary Education I-III Levels No. 2 of the Yavoriv City Council of the Lviv Region, the team sincerely envied their colleagues who studied at one of the best universities – UCU.
“We have very strong informatics teachers, we have very high results. This year, three students became prize-winners of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad in Information Technology, they won 2nd and 3rd places in the highest level competitions. In our school, children learn computer science from the 3rd grade, in addition, computers are also used for other subjects. We are also planning to create a language room for learning foreign languages,” the director shares.
The project of innovative education and computerization “Leave no one behind partnership” is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum”. Its founder, People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi, attracted support for Ukrainian education from the government of Taiwan. As a result of the project, new computer science classrooms will work in almost a hundred schools of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions.
“Intellectual youth will be able to rebuild a successful, strong country. It is with technology that we have a chance to be interesting to the world. That is why it is so important to invest resources in children’s education, to improve the quality of education. Learning outcomes depend on teachers and comfortable conditions in schools. With new technology and innovative knowledge, our partners help us develop young people and be invincible and confident in the future,” Mykola Kniazhytskyi emphasized.
Robots and knowledge as a “superpower”: A Taiwanese project encourages schools to embrace innovative education
Almost a hundred schools of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions are involved in the Ukrainian-Taiwan project “Leave no one behind partnership”. The goal of the project is innovative education for teachers and high school students. Informatics teachers from 20 educational institutions upgraded their qualifications at UCU, and teenagers from 71 schools have already participated in entrepreneurship and innovation camps. The project is ongoing and another important component of it is the computerization of computer science classrooms in schools. Teachers, students and organizers tell how it happens.
“Schools whose students and teachers complied with the conditions of our project, attended training, are gradually receiving computer equipment or sets of robotics. Depending on what they need more – robotics or laptops, as well as projectors with screens. 46 educational institutions, participants of the entrepreneurship camps, have already received sets of modern equipment,” said Ulyana Pak, coordinator of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project.
During entrepreneurship camps, high school students study the business model canvas, conduct business negotiations, generate their own business ideas and defend projects in teams. According to Ulyana Pak, many of the students’ business ideas have a special mission and social effect. It is not only about profit, but also about impact on society, about interaction and social responsibility.
“When we bring equipment to schools, we invite schoolchildren to a meeting. So that everyone knows that thanks to their efforts, the school received such equipment. You need to be active, involved, caring and look for, use any opportunity. In addition, we tell you that this technique and this training is a gift from the people of Taiwan, which helps us to persevere and develop the youth,” concludes the project coordinator.
Recently, Markiyan Shashkevych Secondary School No. 34 and Lviv Lyceum of the Lviv City Council received 10 sets of robotics for participating in the project.
“Currently, there are not many opportunities to provide the school with modern equipment. We have two computer classes at school and have been teaching robotics for three years. For the elementary school, we bought robot kits. And now, having received 10 new modern sets, we will be able to teach this subject to older students as well,” said the director of secondary comprehensive school No. 34 named after Markiyana Shashkevych Olga Filipishyna.
The school is already implementing a social entrepreneurship project. Pupils are engaged in making dried fruits. The experience at the entrepreneurship camp added to their understanding of the development of their own business.
“We developed the idea of an ethnic cafe with a jazz focus, and at the same time it is a public organization with its own youth center. If there are resources and opportunities in the future, I would gladly do this not only in Ukraine, but also in other countries. So that it would be a place for Ukrainian youth who could come and be interested in Ukrainian culture. Everyone in the camp had their own unique ideas, their own direction,” said Mrhigh school student Danylo Grynko, who came to Lviv from Zaporizhzhia. For a year and a half, the boy lived abroad, in Spain. He remembers how in that place At school, children studied robotics and worked with mini-robots. And for they learned to use computers to program the chips of these robots so that they would travel in circles and perform various movements. The boy hopes that many students in his Lviv school will be interested in such a subject.
“I believe that additional training, such as it was in entrepreneurship camps, outside of school is a preparatory stage for the future of each person. Maybe someone wants to produce their products or provide services. And someone will want to create their own business, where you can do something and get paid for it. We do not know what awaits us, for example, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. And to get such knowledge is very useful, and in addition to knowledge, we have a gift for the school – robotics,” emphasizes tenth-grader Dmytro.
The project “Leave no one behind partnership” is implemented by the public organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan. People’s deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi also supports the project. He always emphasizes how important it is to create comfortable and high-quality conditions for the education of children in Ukraine. So that young people would stay to live and work in their country, make it economically capable and developed.
“Robots are our “superpower”, drones are now helping to win on the front: in the air and at sea. It is very important for children to understand how technology works, to be able to assemble robots. Our partners from Taiwan are interested in us persevering in this war, because otherwise democracy and freedom in the world will be at risk, – Mykola Kniazhytskyi stressed, – Our joint project is distinguished by the fact that it is complex and multifaceted. It’s not just about handing out robots or computers, it’s about involving children and teachers in working together, building communication networks, and learning. And we help those who learn successfully to develop further by providing computers and robotics. And most importantly, children participate in joint projects with their peers from other schools and create a space for innovative development, which obviously has a future.”
