Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), an American non-profit organisation, has, together with international partners and donors, purchased a golf-club complex on Kyiv’s Obolon Embankment. The site will be transformed in stages into a modern university campus for mathematicians, engineers and high-tech specialists, while preserving its sports and recreational facilities and ensuring the grounds remain open to the community.

“Education is a strategic investment that underpins both our economy and our security. Ukraine’s education system needs a radical overhaul, with agile institutions replacing outdated structures. By creating an intellectual and innovation hub on the new campus, we give talented Ukrainians the chance to study and launch their own projects without leaving the country. It is a direct contribution to Ukraine’s future competitiveness and resilience,” said Tymofiy Mylovanov, President of KSE.

In the first phase, the existing buildings will be adapted for classrooms and research laboratories, with dedicated spaces for summer schools, international forums and joint R&D programmes with business.

At $40 million, the project represents the largest private investment in education in Ukraine’s history. Almost half of the budget ($18 million) covered the purchase of the complex; the remainder — part of which has already been secured from international donors — will fund the campus conversion, equip engineering and research labs, and expand scholarship programmes.

“The demand for graduates with strong mathematical and engineering skills grows every day. The new campus will let us double our STEM programmes, enlarge the scholarship fund and broaden international partnerships. More young Ukrainians will be able to study at home, and we can scale up support for children of military personnel, IDPs, veterans and anyone who needs extra opportunities,” said Tymofii Brik, KSE Rector.

The acquisition followed a five-month legal and compliance review. KSE’s legal team drafted and executed 45 documents, reporting regularly to the Campus Expansion Committee and the KSE Board of Directors. Final approval came from the compliance, sanctions and fraud departments of a leading US bank.

KSE will retain the site’s sporting and recreational character, integrating green spaces and opening the venue for public events, STEM competitions, a summer cinema and community initiatives. The university will work with urbanists, activists and public authorities to ensure openness, transparency and benefit for residents of Obolon, Kyiv and the country as a whole.

KSE’s track record demonstrates the impact of educational investment. In 2020 Dragon Capital renovated a six-storey building on Mykola Shpaka Str. — worth more than $5 million — and transferred it to KSE. In 2022 KSE Foundation bought the building for $2.5 million, with the remaining $2.5 million recorded as a charitable contribution. That site became KSE’s “new home”, enabling enrolment to grow from 150 to 1,150 students and supporting new academic programmes. The new $40 million project in Obolon — eight times larger — now offers unprecedented opportunities for Ukrainian scholars and students.

Since February 2022, KSE donors have contributed more than $150 million to support Ukraine, including military and humanitarian assistance. Their next strategic focus is long-term investment in educational infrastructure — campus facilities, laboratories and technology centres — essential for the country’s reconstruction and defence. Half of the campus budget is already raised; KSE will secure the remainder shortly.

Kyiv School of Economics thanks all donors and partners for the trust and support that make these ambitious plans for Ukraine’s future possible.