On October 13–14, the National University of Ostroh Academy hosted the 'EU Career Days 2025'. The event was organised by the EU Information Centre, established at the university with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.
The programme included a panel discussion on 'Ukraine's European Integration Aspirations and Prospects in the Context of the Contemporary Geopolitical Landscape' and a series of training sessions for students.
The Rector of Ostroh Academy, Doctor of Science (Psychology), Full Professor Eduard Balashov, addressed the participants of the panel discussion with an opening remark:
"Today's discussion is not merely an examination of a strategic course or political direction. It is a conversation about values, the civilisational choice that Ukraine has made and continues to defend daily—on the battlefield, in diplomatic halls, and in educational classrooms. We live in a time when new lines of influence are redrawing the world map, and the concepts of security, justice, and cooperation are taking on new meaning. Ostroh Academy has always supported discussions that help young people, scholars, and society at large to reflect on Ukraine's European path. We are convinced that the future of our state is the future of a free, dignified, and strong European nation."
Olha Blyzniak, Candidate of Political Sciences, Senior Lecturer at the Department of International Relations and moderator of the event, noted:
"In today's context, the concept of 'European integration' has ceased to be merely a political slogan; it has become part of Ukrainian identity and our civilisational choice. At the same time, the path to full membership in the EU is not merely a symbolic process, but a matter of daily work—political, economic, legal, and even mental. Today, we will discuss Ukraine's aspirations and prospects within this complex and dynamic geopolitical environment. Our speakers represent different professional fields—diplomacy, politics, and law—thus allowing us to view the issue of European integration from multiple perspectives."
Among the speakers of the panel discussion were Ukrainian diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in 2007–2009, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Volodymyr Ohryzko; Adviser to the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Olena Kondratiuk, alumnus and postgraduate student of Ostroh Academy Pavlo Bulhak; as well as lawyer at the Strategic Litigation Centre of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union and documenter of war crimes, Olena Kuvaieva.
During the discussion, participants focused on Ukraine's current position in its pursuit of European Union membership, the challenges influencing this journey, and the level of Ukraine's institutional readiness for integration. This readiness was examined not only in terms of political will but also through concrete legislative efforts.
– Which recent diplomatic decisions do you consider pivotal to Ukraine's European future?
"The primary political decision of the Ukrainian people in this regard was the determination to stop Russian aggression in February 2022. We have shown that we are a nation that values freedom and independence and will determine its own destiny,"
– What role can Ukraine play in the new architecture of European security?
"Ukraine can become a key element in the new architecture of European security. Excluding NATO as a whole, Ukraine is militarily the most powerful country in Europe, capable of defending itself. The Ukrainian people have already demonstrated this: they are fighting and will defeat the Russian aggressor. In this regard, we will be of great use to Europe,"
– To what extent has the current war become a catalyst for transforming the EU itself? Can we say that Ukraine is prompting Europe to reevaluate its mission?
"For Europe, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine became a moment that forced it to remember the purpose for which the European Union was created; to recognise Ukraine as its equal and to see that it can be part of Europe on ideological, intellectual, and cultural levels. Today, in addition to physically defeating the enemy in this war, our critical mission is to preserve dignity, humanity, and a shared cultural space with Europe,"
The Rector of Ostroh Academy, Eduard Balashov, summarised the outcomes of the panel discussion:
"Hearing diverse perspectives from diplomacy, legislation, legal protection, notarial practice, international relations, political science, and national security was an invaluable experience for the students of Ostroh Academy. We are all united by Ukraine, and to serve it best, each of us must perform our work to the highest standard."
Additionally, all interested participants had the opportunity to attend four training sessions dedicated to current and vital topics.
The training on 'Law, Security, and Ethics: How to Talk About War with Maximum Benefit' was conducted by Olena Kuvaieva, a lawyer at the Strategic Litigation Centre of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union and documenter of war crimes.
The speaker discussed the specifics of her work, collaboration with international organisations, international humanitarian law, types of international crimes, the distinction between military and war crimes, principles of communication, and more.
“To communicate about the war accurately and appropriately, one must first have a clear understanding of the terminology. Documenting war crimes is not only about direct accountability, but also, in particular, about preserving memory and history,”
Serhii Shturkhetskyi, Candidate of Sciences in Public Administration and Associate Professor at the Department of Journalism and PR Management of the NaUOA, conducted a training for students on 'Employment in the Age of AI: What You Should Know.'
The speaker focused on the concepts of artificial intelligence, valuable tools for researching scholarly sources, language models and their types, and how to apply this knowledge in the context of employment.
"The labour market is changing very rapidly, and students must be prepared for the fact that artificial intelligence is already part of the hiring process. During the training, we used specific tools and case studies so that students would not only learn about AI theoretically but also see its practical applications—from creating resumes to preparing for interviews. The key is to learn to think strategically: to understand where AI can assist, and where a human approach, creativity, and emotional intelligence are critically important,"
The training on ‘The Role of Project Management and Design Thinking in Career Development’ was conducted by Olesia Hoshchuk, Project Manager at the NGO Town Image Studio.
The speaker discussed design thinking and provided a detailed explanation of its 5 stages: empathy, goal definition, brainstorming, prototyping, and testing.
"The topic of our training will be useful not only for career development, as design thinking is a methodology that is highly valuable in life. It focuses on solving a wide range of problems and is primarily oriented toward human needs. This methodology is used by all leading companies and leaders who develop their strategies, and even at a minimal level, anyone can apply it,"
Roman Shulyk, Head of the Department of Journalism and PR Management at the NaUOA, Cand. Sc. (Philology) and Associate Professor, conducted a training on 'How Not to Lose Your Sanity in the Age of Post-Truth.'
The speaker focused on the concept of post-truth, its connection to emotions and information overload, and how to protect oneself and loved ones in such conditions.
"Our path to the EU is very challenging, as we are not only compelled to resist the war, but also to carry out meaningful transformation at the political, economic, legislative, and values-based levels. We must understand that European norms and values cannot simply be imported; they must be comprehended and take root in Ukraine. To achieve this, it is necessary to carry out active informational work and place emphasis on education and youth. It is with this goal in mind that we organised a series of diverse training sessions and a panel discussion as part of the EU Career Days at our university,"
