At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) unveiled a strategic initiative to build a new educational ecosystem in Ukraine — an infrastructure that integrates academic programs, professional training, applied research, business partnerships, and an open public space. At the heart of this ecosystem will be KSE’s new campus in Kyiv.

The project aims to expand access to quality education and foresees $40 million in total investment, with over $25 million already secured from private donors. The remaining funds are expected to be raised in two phases: $8 million in 2025 and $7 million in 2026. Eighty percent of tuition costs will be covered through fundraising efforts. KSE University’s operating model will remain non-profit.

Investment in human capital is considered one of the key drivers of long-term growth, economic modernization, and enhanced institutional capacity in Ukraine.

“Our educational project includes bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as research centers. Empowerment is an investment in the future. In the reconstruction period, Ukraine will need not only physical infrastructure but also people who can lead and manage change. Our mission is to prepare those people now,” said Tymofii Mylovanov, President of KSE.

The core efforts will focus on developing new academic programs, building cutting-edge research infrastructure, and expanding opportunities for hands-on learning. The initiative aims to double the current student body to over 2,500 students.

The first educational facilities will open in spring 2026, with full operations and public events launching in summer 2026. The new KSE campus will accommodate over 2,500 students — twice the current number.

The new campus will serve as a foundation for expanding educational offerings, including bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs in economics, public policy, IT, engineering, and more. It will also include short-term reskilling programs in high-demand technical fields such as equipment operators and welders. KSE already has dual degree programmes in cooperation with the University of Houston and in new engineering fields in partnership with Olin College, and has also entered into a partnership with UMass.

As part of its development strategy, the campus will feature modern classrooms, engineering labs, business collaboration hubs, workshops, sports facilities, and public green spaces open to the community.

“We see this campus not as an investment in bricks, but in people. Ukraine needs thousands of new professionals — engineers, analysts, economists — to implement recovery on the ground. The shortage of human capital is the top risk cited by both international investors and Ukrainian businesses,” said Tymofii Brik, Rector of KSE.

During the presentation in Rome, international partners emphasized the strategic coherence of the project, which complements Ukraine’s broader infrastructure and industrial initiatives. Many participants noted that a qualified workforce will be a decisive factor in the success of Ukraine’s large-scale reconstruction plans.