EPAM Ukraine Honours 28 Educators with the ‘IT Education Ambassador’ Award

To mark its 20th anniversary, the EPAM Ukraine launched the “IT Education Ambassadors” award. It is presented to lecturers and managers from EPAM Campus partner universities who actively contribute to the development of IT education in the country. The first laureates were 28 representatives from more than 20 partner universities across Ukraine.

 

Twenty years is a great opportunity to look back and see how much has been done for IT education. We decided to recognize those who not only implement projects but also take a proactive stance and show genuine concern for the future of the industry

comments Denys Hryniov, Head of EPAM Campus UA programs, on the introduction of the “IT Education Ambassadors” award

 

The main selection criteria were involvement in joint initiatives, creating favorable conditions for student learning, synergy of efforts, and an innovative approach. Examples of cooperation include updating curricula, organizing internships and hackathons, providing technical support for laboratories, and more.

 

The challenges of modern IT education are more about values than technology. We need to focus more on the shift from ‘teaching subjects’ to preparing competent professionals capable of interdisciplinary and creative thinking. Despite the difficulties, there are achievements today. My greatest accomplishment is creating a vibrant educational community where teachers, students, and business partners act as a single team. I am proud that our department has become a platform where new projects are born, startups are formed, and ideas emerge that later turn into real products or research initiatives

shares Nataliia Melnykova, Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence Systems at Lviv Polytechnic, one of the award recipients

 

Another educator, Oleh Dykyi, Dean of the Faculty of Cybersecurity at Odesa Law Academy, adds about his motivation to develop IT education in Ukraine: 

 

I was involved in the creation of this faculty in 2019, and today its first graduates are PhD candidates in technical sciences. I know all the students, I communicate with their parents—for me, this is a measure of social responsibility. I promised to teach the students and help them find employment. That’s why I do everything possible for this, including developing joint projects with EPAM Campus

 

Iryna Udovyk, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Dnipro Polytechnic, notes that faith in students and pride in their successful graduates help her overcome challenges:

 

Working in Ukrainian IT education is not about ease and stability. It’s a path that requires constant learning, adaptation, and strong internal motivation. But despite all the challenges, I stay here because I see meaning in what I do

 

It’s important to recognize partnership projects because we know their results and their significance for the future of the IT sector. There are motivated teachers in the country who are interested in innovations and technologies, invest time in their development, and pass on the best practices to students. This is not just a list—it’s people with whom we have implemented significant projects, where they were the drivers. It is with them that we can build a new version of IT education that will become a pillar for the country in training engineers

Ivan Mikheiev, Head of EPAM Educational Programs in Eastern Ukraine

 

The full list of “Ambassadors”: 

• Mykhailo Lobachev from Odesa National Polytechnic University;
• Oleh Dykyi from Odesa Law Academy;
• Roman Shuvar from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv;
• Ulyana Marikutsa, Mykola Logoida, Nataliia Melnykova from Lviv Polytechnic National University;
• Marta Tychenko from Ukrainian Catholic University, Valentyna Yakubiv from Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University;
• Pavlo Mulesa from Uzhhorod National University;
• Khrystyna Lip’yanina-Honcharenko from West Ukrainian National University;
• Andrii Striuk from Kryvyi Rih National University;
• Yuliia Ulyanovska from University of Customs and Finance;
• Iryna Udovyk from Dnipro University of Technology;
• Volodymyr Herasymov from Oles Honchar Dnipro National University;
• Dmytro Uzlov from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University;
• Andrii Pashniev from National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”;
• Viktor Kauk from Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics;
• Iryna Zolotarova from Kharkiv National University of Economics;
• Serhii Tytenko from American University Kyiv;
• Yevheniia Suliema from National Technical University “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”;
• Andrii Fesenko from Kyiv Aviation Institute;
• Artem Korotenko from Kyiv School of Economics;
• Mykhailo Viter and Vitalii Svatko from National Transport University;
• Svitlana Kyrylashchuk from Vinnytsia National Technical University;
• Andrii Morozov and Maryna Hraf from Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University.

 

The “IT Education Ambassadors” award is not only a token of gratitude but also recognition of educators’ contributions to the development of technological education in Ukraine. EPAM plans to continue supporting partnership initiatives and developing cooperation with universities.