The event was attended by Liudmyla Horbatiuk, Head of the Department of Economics and Marketing, and Viktoriia Borysenko, Chair of the Council of Young Researchers and Students and a bachelor’s student enrolled in the Economics degree programme.

The event was held online due to the security situation. It was opened by Yurii Danko, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs at Sumy National Agrarian University.

Hryhorii Monastyrskyi spoke about the role of Councils of Young Researchers as schools of leadership, drawing on the experience of West Ukrainian National University. Hanna Tolstanova from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv shared her experience of progressing from student to Vice-Rector for Research, as well as discussing the challenges and work-life balance involved in this role.

Yurii Petrushenko, Director of the President of Ukraine’s Foundation for Support of Education, Science and Sports, spoke about the development of talent as a talent-management tool in universities.

Anastasiia Simakhova, Chair of the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, presented the Council as a community that brings people together. Hryhorii Mozolevych, Director General of the Directorate for Science Development at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, spoke about state policy supporting science. Yana Sychikova, Vice-Rector for Research at Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, discussed pursuing a research career without a set manual, common mistakes, and the lessons that can be learned from them.

In the second part of the event, Yurii Danko spoke about communication within the research community. The programme concluded with Liudmyla Varenyk, Head of the Centre for Shared Use of Scientific Equipment, the Laboratory of Ecological Agriculture and Environmental Management, and Chair of the Council of Young Scientists under the Sumy Regional State Administration. She spoke about how a research career is not pursued alone, focusing on choices, opportunities, and the people who can change everything.

Participation in this format provides an opportunity to learn from colleagues at other universities, gain insight into state support for science, and see how Councils of Young Researchers operate in Ukraine. This aligns with the objectives of our university’s Council of Young Researchers and Higher Education Students: promoting the professional and research development of young people, fostering inter-university cooperation, and facilitating the exchange of experience. All participants received certificates of participation.

We thank Sumy National Agrarian University for organizing the event and for the invitation!