The first meeting of the working group was held at Lviv Polytechnic National University. It was chaired by Rector Nataliia Shakhovska, who initiated the development of the University’s five-year strategic plan which followed recommendations from the University’s Supervisory Board to involve leading specialists in the process. The session was facilitated by Pavlo Sheremeta, a member of the Supervisory Board, renowned Ukrainian economist and educator, professor at the Kyiv School of Economics, former Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine (2014), and currently a senior officer at the headquarters of the 2nd Khartia Corps.
The event began with fundamental issues – defining the mission, vision, and values of the University. Pavlo Sheremeta emphasized that a clear understanding of the mission is the foundation of any successful strategy, as it sets the direction of progress and influences all aspects of the organization’s activities.
To ensure an objective discussion, the facilitator posed a rhetorical yet thought-provoking question: «Who would mourn if the University were closed». This approach helped identify the key stakeholder groups for whom Lviv Polytechnic holds the greatest value, including students and postgraduates, employers, industrial enterprises, suppliers, and city authorities.
Special attention during the discussion was given to the acute shortage of engineering personnel in Ukraine. Participants agreed that the University’s role is not merely to train performers, but to cultivate specialists capable of generating new ideas, creating innovative products, and fostering entrepreneurship.
The conversation also addressed the quality of educational services, highlighting the need to establish clear quality standards and modernize outdated curricula. Participants emphasized that today’s students require interactive teaching methods and the development of practical skills, particularly in management and entrepreneurship, as many begin working professionally as early as their third year.
One of the key areas of the future strategy was identified as deepening cooperation with business. This will make it possible to attract additional funding for scientific projects, as well as ensure the relevance of educational programs and successful employment of graduates. At the same time, participants acknowledged existing obstacles, particularly bureaucracy, which complicates effective collaboration with industry.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of high-quality educational services and their impact on the labour market. Participants emphasized the need to train students in management and develop their entrepreneurial skills, recognizing that these competencies are critical for the successful careers of graduates.
In conclusion, the participants emphasized the importance of university cooperation with business to attract funding and develop new projects. They discussed sources of funding, in particular, the state budget and tuition fees, as well as the need to modernize educational programs.
The meeting concluded with the identification of specific tasks and the assignment of responsible individuals. Participants, organized into working groups, will continue developing the University’s value proposition, revenue models, and personnel policy.
Among the key tasks that the teams will focus on in the near future are developing proposals to improve the quality of educational services, creating a strategy to attract funding for scientific projects, and forming models of effective cooperation with business.
Pavlo Sheremeta also invited Marta Beshley, Head of the Culture Department at the Lviv City Council’s Department of Education and Culture and Non-Staff Advisor to the Lviv City Mayor on Cultural Issues, to contribute to Lviv Polytechnic’s strategic planning. Drawing on her experience in implementing the school’s development strategy, including the creation of new courses and studios, she emphasized the importance of a systematic approach and highlighted opportunities for future collaboration with Lviv Polytechnic, particularly in education and culture.