On January 14, 2026, the first meeting of the Stakeholder Council was held online at the Lviv Polytechnic Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences (IHSS). The event launched a new stage of systematic cooperation with the professional community aimed at developing educational programs, improving the quality of student training, and strengthening the practical component of education.
The participants of the event were students, employers, graduates, guarantors, heads of the Departments, and the management of the Institute.
The Stakeholder Council included, in particular, a community development specialist from UNDP in Ukraine, Nazar Ihor, a specialist from the State Protocol Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Director of the Interactive Museum «D.S. Secret Pharmacy», the Head of the Department of Personnel Development and Organizational Support at the Lviv Regional Military Administration, the Head of the Personnel Management Department, the Social Protection Department, the Humanitarian Policy Department, the Lviv City Council, and others.
Zoriana Kunch, Director of the Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences, addressed the participants with a welcome speech. She highlighted the importance of involving stakeholders in the development of modern educational programs, emphasized the Institute’s openness to partnership, and outlined the role of the Stakeholder Council as a key tool for improving the quality of education and strengthening the practical component of the educational process.
Mykola Buchyn, Deputy Director of the IHSS, presented the Institute’s educational programs to the Council members, highlighting plans for their enhancement and the launch of new programs in 2026.
Nataliia Vovk, Deputy Director of the Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences, spoke about the strategic directions of the Council’s activities and opportunities for cooperation. In her report, she noted that the creation of the Stakeholder Council is an important strategic step aimed at strengthening the connection between university education and the professional environment.
The main goal of the Stakeholder Council is to promote the improvement of the quality of specialist training by integrating the current labour market requirements into the Institute’s educational programs. To achieve this goal, the Council has been assigned a number of important tasks:
- participation in the development and modernization of educational programs;
- formation of relevant professional competencies of students, in particular soft skills;
- advisory support on the content of academic disciplines;
- promotion of student practical training through the organization of internships and participation in real projects;
- support for the employment of graduates and their professional orientation.
The Stakeholder Council is not merely a formal body, but an effective expert platform that brings together the interests of the university, students, and the professional community. It serves as a channel for labour market feedback, a partner in the strategic development of education, and a bridge between academic training and the real demands of professional practice.
