Publication date:
Publication from:
On November 28, Ukraine hosted its largest IT education conference, Synergy. IT Business & IT Education. The event brought together leading industry experts, educators, business leaders, IT veterans and students to explore the most pressing trends shaping the future of IT education in the country.
This conference is the flagship educational event of the year in the IT industry. Our goal is to unite efforts across education, business, and government. We aim to foster collaboration between these sectors to discuss the latest trends in IT and education,
said Denys Grynov, Vice President of IT Ukraine Association for Educational Issues and Head of EPAM Campus Ukraine, as he opened the conference.
This year, the event emphasised the rapid growth of Ukraine’s EdTech market and addressed critical issues such as talent retention and development. Special focus was given to integrating veterans into the workforce, providing mental health support and fostering lifelong learning.
Education has evolved far beyond school textbooks and online courses. It has become a product, an investment, and a business model. Ukraine’s tech industry is showing the world it can create remarkable products that shape the country’s future,
noted Mariia Shevchuk, Executive Director of IT Ukraine Association.
The program featured 4 panel discussions, 2 case interviews and a case study, along with a special pitches block, covering a range of topics, including:
During the case interview ‘Transformation of Universities: New Models for a New Era,’ Kseniia Semenova (Acting President of KAI) told journalist Illia Kabachynskyi about the importance of digitalization and innovations for modernising university curricula and procedures. She also highlighted collaboration with employers and international partners, which enhances student preparation and provides them with critical skills for a successful career.
Educational Innovations and Cross-Sectoral Partnerships as a National Priority
The first panel discussion, ‘Educational Innovations and Cross-Sectoral Partnership as a National Priority,’ was moderated by Denys Grynov (Vice President for Educational Issues at IT Ukraine Association, Head of EPAM Campus in Ukraine), with speakers Anna Todor (Head of the Digital Academy at the Corporate University of Fozzy Group), Vadym Drumov (CEO and Co-Founder of Hillel IT School) and Yegor Stadnyi (First Vice-Rector of Kyiv School of Economics). The speakers discussed the need for effective coordination between the government and business to optimize resources and improve access to education, the role of innovations in digitalization and the creation of innovation centers, and emphasized the need to create favorable investment conditions, particularly through tax incentives and innovation support.
The second panel discussion on ‘EdTech as a Catalyst for Educational Transformation: Global Trends and Local Opportunities’ was moderated by Nadiia Synytsia (Head of Education & CSR IT Ukraine Association). The speakers included Kateryna Borovska (CMO, Promova), Illia Filipov (Co-Founder and CEO of EdEra), Volodymyr Strashko(CEO of Unicorn School) and Viacheslav Polinovsky (CEO of GoITeens). The discussion covered personalized learning through AI, adapted to Ukrainian realities, the importance of strategic EdTech development in Ukraine, and the country’s potential to become a leader in EdTech in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Insights on Digitalization in EdTech: Experience of Englishdom
The online broadcast continued with the case interview ‘Insights on Digitalization in EdTech: Experience of Englishdom.’ During this session, Inna Lukaichuk (CEO of Englishdom) shared her experience in automating business processes, implementing CRM, and collecting data on students. Interviewer Mykola Troianchuk (CCO of UniTalk) discussed with her the integration of messengers, chatbots, and CRM, which significantly increased conversions and improved student experience. Digitalisation allowed for automating client interactions, reducing support staff costs, and shortening response times. High conversion rates and increased applications confirmed the success of digitalisation despite challenges.
The case study ‘American-Style IT Education: Industry-Driven Curricula and Internships’ was presented by Sergiy Tytenko (Ph.D., Associate Professor, Deputy Dean of the EPAM School of Digital Technologies American University Kyiv).
He explained that AUK’s programs are tailored to industry needs, providing students with practical skills required for the job market. Life-long learning programs offer the opportunity to quickly acquire professional competencies through industrial partnerships. Internships and corporate collaborations foster long-term connections between universities and businesses, opening pathways to employment.
The panel discussion on ‘Reintegrating Veterans into Business: Initiatives and Challenges on the Path to Adaptation’ was moderated by Alina Konovalchenko (Director of Operations, UN Global Compact Ukraine), featuring speakers Olena Oleksiienko (Chief of People Team, EVO), Serhii Malynka (Head of the Change Management Center of UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group), Olena Lebedieva (People Lead Ukraine at SoftServe) and Bohdan Diorditsia (Head of Esper Ukraine). The discussion focused on corporate projects supporting veterans, including training and adaptation programs for civilian life, creating opportunities for professional development through retraining and mentorship. Speakers emphasised that successful veteran reintegration often depends on individualized support programs.
The final panel discussion, ‘Talent Management and Competitiveness: Addressing the Talent Shortage and Life-long Learning’ was moderated by Anton Chornyi (CEO of GoIT). The speakers included Yuliia Daineko (COO of JEVERA and XME.digital), Nataliia Ivoniak (Principal at Amrop Executive Search Ukraine) and Volodymyr Kysylenko (CTO, NGO OSVITORIA). The discussion highlighted the importance of focusing on flexibility, adaptability, and the development of a “growth mindset” rather than solely on experience. The speakers emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to talent attraction, which includes not only recruitment but also building the company’s reputation as a reliable employer. To address the IT specialist shortage, conditions for continuous learning must be created, enabling employees to adapt to changes in technology and the business environment.
Ukraine has been a model of resilience for three years now. This applies not only to business but also to the IT sector, which faces challenges, including brain drain. The fight for talented individuals increases costs, which can reduce competitiveness in the global market,
said Andrey Kashperuk (Deputy Chair of the Board for Retail Business, UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group).
A special part of the programme was 6 ten-minute pitches on the topic ‘Education of the Future: Pitching of Innovative EdTech Products to Transform Learning’:
During the pitch ‘From Idea to Impact: How SoftServe Transforms Learning Through Dual Education,’ Kateryna Malash (Education Project Lead, SoftServe) shared how the company collaborates with universities, providing students with practical experience through joint programs. Dual education at SoftServe evolved through informal education, and in 2023, a formal model was launched, enabling students to combine studies with work and ensuring job prospects.
During the pitch ‘From Magazine to Success: Digitisation Powering Education Wins,’ Yuriy Kaminovskyy (Co-Founder and COO of Lionwood.Software), also the founder of the Learning and Technology (NIT) project, shared how the digital journal ensures transparency of grades and progress in real-time, improves communication among students, parents, and teachers, creating a safe and convenient environment.
The pitch, ‘Personalised Learning in Companies: How Online Course Strategies Can Enhance IT Team Performance,’ presented by Viktor Lokotkov (CMO of Softbook), emphasised that personalized learning increases effectiveness and speeds up employee adaptation to new technologies. He also highlighted that integrating adaptive learning and practical projects creates an effective and motivational environment for IT teams.
The pitch ‘CoreSkills 2.0 – A Platform for Developing Essential Skills for IT Professionals,’ presented by Dmytro Okhrimenko (Co-Founder of CyberBionic Systematics and ITVDN), explained that CoreSkills 2.0 reduces the gap between educational programs and market demands, assessing and developing key IT specialist skills. The platform covers disciplines such as object-oriented programming, algorithms, databases, and web technologies and offers competency assessments and tailored educational programs to meet current IT industry needs.
The pitch ‘Education or Safe Development? The Role of the IT Industry in Protecting Children from Online Abuse,’ presented by Anastasiya Dzyakava (Founder of the NGO #stop_sexting), emphasized that education should provide knowledge about Internet safety. Meanwhile, the IT industry must implement the “Safety by Design” approach to create safe technologies protecting children from online threats.
The final pitch, ‘Mental Health: The Influence of Psychological State on Team Productivity,’ presented by Kristina Nadiryan (Co-Founder and CBDO of Zapal), highlighted that investments in mental health reduce stress and burnout, increasing team productivity. She also stressed that creating a culture of mental wellness helps reduce stigma and improves workplace atmosphere.
Ukraine is a country that demands young talent for its development. A successful country is impossible without young people who will develop it. Therefore, we must think about the future, about how to retain talent in Ukraine,
said Yurii Antonyuk (Vice President, Head of EPAM in Central and Eastern Europe).
For more details, recordings, and highlights:
We are improving the situation by working together. We are building a foundation for the future, with a focus on developing people. This applies not only to companies but also to higher education institutions, as people are the cornerstone of our industry’s success,
concluded Taras Kytsmey, Co-founder of SoftServe and Board Member of IT Ukraine Association.
Synergy. IT Business & IT Education is organised by IT Ukraine Association. Bank partner – UKRSIBBANK BNP PARIBAS GROUP. Gold partners: EPAM, SoftServe. Partner – MacPaw Space. Water partner – VODA UA. Media partners: Mind.Ua, Highload.today, MC.today, ITC.ua. Information partners: EdEra, Hillel IT School, IT Cluster Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv IT Cluster, IT Dnipro, IT FAMILY Odesa, Project Management Institute, Rivne IT Cluster, Sigma Software University, STEM is FEM, STUD-POINT, IT-Association Vinnytsia, Unicorn School.
