The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) has identified defence industries education as one of its strategic development directions. Valentyna Sakhno, who previously headed the KSE Business School, is transitioning to the position of KSE Vice President and will be responsible for this area.

Defence industries are a field where knowledge has a very short path from the classroom to real-world application. Therefore, education in this sector must be as practical as possible: teaching not only technologies or management, but also how to work at the intersection of these competencies, understand market and state needs, build efficient processes, and make decisions under conditions of high responsibility.

Valentyna Sakhno will be responsible for the defence industries education strategy at KSE, the launch and scaling of educational programs, partnerships with the defense and technology sectors, and the engagement of practitioners in education. She brings entrepreneurial experience and a proven ability to launch and develop new directions.

“Ukraine has already become one of the global centers for defense innovations. The next step is to invest in the people who will create and scale these solutions. This requires a modern system of defence industries education and strong institutions. That is precisely why this direction is strategic for KSE,” says KSE President Tymofiy Mylovanov.

“At KSE, we want to combine academic expertise with the experience of entrepreneurs, engineers, military personnel, and technology teams, creating an educational ecosystem both for people already working in the defence industries and for those just entering this sector,” commented KSE Vice President Valentyna Sakhno.

About KSE

The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) is a leading multidisciplinary educational and research institution that combines academic excellence, entrepreneurial thinking, science, and technology to create solutions for society, business, and the state.

The KSE ecosystem includes five key areas: KSE University with international bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs; KSE Graduate Business School featuring MBA, eMBA, corporate training, and short-term professional courses; KSE ProfTech, which prepares specialists in applied and technical fields; KSE Institute, a think tank researching economics, policy, and business; and KSE Foundation, which mobilizes resources for KSE’s institutional development and implements nation-wide educational, humanitarian, and defense initiatives.

Founded in 1996.