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- BA Theses 2025
Khrystyna Basysta (Business Economics, 2025)
“INNOVATIVE ECO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY”
In this thesis, a comprehensive business plan is presented for the launch of a sustainable jewelry brand that turns recycled 3D-printed plastic waste into fashionable accessories. The proposed solution addresses the growing environmental problems and meets consumers’ demand for ethical and eco-friendly products among Millennials and Generation Z. Market analysis determines the clear trends of growth in global and Ukrainian sustainable jewelry markets. The competitive analysis suggests an opportunity to occupy a unique market niche, since no other local competitors use 3D printing waste as the main material.
Khrystyna Petrynka (Economics and Big Data, 2025)
“ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN WAR-AFFECTED HROMADAS IN UKRAINE: THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought chaos and damage but triggered massive civil mobilisation, which helped Ukraine to resist and fight back. Even though the war continues, local hromadas are trying to recover the infrastructure and economic activity with various tools. In the long term, nongovernmental actors can not only account for the resilience of the hromada but also economic development as well. This research studies the effect of active civil society on the economic recovery of war-affected hromadas. More specifically, it is measured through communitarian and liberal approaches to conceptualise civil society.
Petrenko Oleksandr (Business Economics, 2025)
“THE IMPACT OF THE FULL-SCALE WAR ON AGRICULTURAL PERFORMANCE IN UKRAINE”
This paper assesses the impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion on agricultural production in Ukraine by comparing production in the absence of war with actual production. Previous literature on losses in agricultural production due to the war provides a fairly comprehensive overview of the main components of losses and how the country’s agricultural sector has changed and adapted. Financial losses in the agricultural sector are divided into damage to assets and losses related to lost income, which primarily concerns production cuts due to the occupation of territories. The literature also examines the impact of war on the structure of production, the impact on soil, and the forced closure of farms in the frontline zone due to military operations on their agricultural land. This study is an important step in assessing the impact of the war on Ukraine’s agricultural production, because under the current conditions of agricultural business, it is necessary to clearly understand what losses production has suffered precisely because of the war, and not because of weather conditions.
Anton Kruk (Economics and Big Data, 2025)
“FROM RURAL HOUSES TO URBAN FLATS: DWELLING TYPE AND AFFORDABILITY IN EU HOUSING MARKETS”
Housing costs have been outpacing incomes for the past decade in the EU, with flats in major cities experiencing the most severe increases. This paper aims to answer the question: Are detached houses and rural areas more affordable? The literature has a gap in the research of the relationship between dwelling type and housing affordability. The closest topic is the effect of density and affordability, which was found to be negative. Ambiguity of the data exists, as other studies have found opposite results. This paper has found that countries with more rural populations do not spend less on housing, and houses are marginally less affordable than flats. Regression analysis was performed on the data from Eurostat and OECD dataset for the EU member states.
Anna Myslytska (Economics and Big Data, 2025)
What are the main determinants of the attitudes toward LGBT community in Ukraine during wartime? Prior literature identifies several socio-demographic predictors of such attitudes—age, sex, educational attainment, religiosity, and the broader political, legal, and economic context — but reveals critical gaps. These include a limited distinction between general attitudes and support for equal rights, a lack of research in developing and transitioning economies, and the absence of comprehensive models that integrate occupational and regional factors. Addressing these gaps, this study examines how professional and regional characteristics—such as occupation, poverty levels, democratic development, and degree of urbanization—influence perceptions of the LGBT community in wartime Ukraine.
Artem Yaroshevskyi (Business Economics, 2025)
“FROM FOSSILS TO FOOTSTEPS: HOW GREEN ECONOMIC TRANSITIONS SHAPE MIGRATION PATTERNS”
This study investigates how the transition to a green economy affects internal migration patterns across European Union regions. As carbon-intensive sectors decline due to decarbonization policies, certain regions experience structural economic changes that prompt labor reallocation and demographic shifts. Using a novel panel dataset at the NUTS-3 level (2011–2021), this paper estimates a series of random-effects models to assess how carbon-intensive regions differ in migration trends compared to unaffected areas. The analysis incorporates a range of socio-demographic and economic variables to test five hypotheses on the drivers of outmigration, including youth share, elderly population, regional wealth, and median male age.
Anastasiia Tarnavska & Anastasiia Shevelova (Business Economics, 2025)
“FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS OF DUOLINGO: SHOULD INVESTORS BUY, HOLD OR SELL?”
The company Duolingo was founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker. The Duolingo language learning app was launched to the general public on June 19, 2012. Offering free access to its app, Duolingo quickly gained worldwide popularity across language learners of all ages and skill levels and became a leader in the online language learning niche, with over 800 million downloads and 116.7 million active monthly users as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 (Duolingo, Inc., “Shareholder Letter Q4 / FY 2024”). The company has transformed the language-learning landscape by creating interactive, gamified, and personalized learning experiences. Building on its success, Duolingo went public on July 28, 2021, and continues to operate as a dominant player in the EdTech industry. As of the end of 2024, the company has offices in New York, Detroit, Seattle, Beijing, and Berlin and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mark Motliuk & Roman Mychka (Business Economics, 2025)
“VALIDATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS IDEA OF AN AI-POWERED TRANSCRIPTION PRODUCT”
This thesis documents an entrepreneurial journey leveraging OpenAI’s Whisper technology across three distinct ventures. It documents the iterative development, validation, and pivoting process, originating from a real-time transcription concept for individuals with hearing loss, transi-tioning to offline meeting transcription, and culminating in an AI-powered study aid generator for university students. This paper explores how forthcoming advanced AI capabilities can be translated into viable business models within competitive markets.
Ukho Viktoriia (Business Economics, 2025)
Kernel is a leading Ukrainian agro-industrial company founded in 1994 by Andriy Verevskyi. With its headquarters in Kyiv, it has developed into one of the biggest exporters of Ukrainian grain and one of the top producers and exporters of sunflower oil worldwide (Kernel, “Company Overview”). Crop production, oilseed processing, grain storage, and export logistics are all part of the company’s operations, which span the whole agricultural value chain. Kernel’s agriculture segment grows crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans, sunflower, and rapeseed. The company’s refining facilities produce refined sunflower oil in bulk and bottles. In addition, the company owns an extensive network of elevators and port terminals, which contributes to the efficient export of agricultural products (Kernel Holding S.A., Annual Report for FY2024 9-15)
Volodymyr Kulinich & Ostap Borysko (Business Economics, 2025)
“UPET – SUBSCRIPTION FOR PETS OWNERS”
This thesis validates the viability of UPet, a comprehensive subscription-based service for pet owners in Ukraine’s major regional centres. Using the MIT Disciplined Entrepreneurship 24-step methodology (Aulet), this research covers market opportunities, customer segments, and business model for a platform combining pet food delivery, veterinary services, grooming, and canine training. The study employs mixed-method research including primary market surveys (n=312), targeted customer interviews (n=23), and quantitative market analysis to identify a beachhead market of young urban couples (aged 20-29) who recently acquired dogs. Total Addressable Market analysis reveals 1,343 qualifying households in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Lviv, representing an annual market opportunity of approximately $1.9 million.
Starychenko Diana & Vasylchenko Karyna (Business Economics, 2025)
“SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE OF TRADE AUDITORS’ TURNOVER AT CARLSBERG UKRAINE”
A prominent business cannot exist without failures, it is a natural phenomenon when something goes wrong within a corporation. Life constantly challenges large corporations, and the modern, a diverse, and extensive labor market creates great competition for employers trying to select the best candidates. However, sometimes conditions arise within the company that contribute to constant personnel turnover, leading to significant financial losses and a negative impact on the company’s work. This work examines the problem of staff turnover in the position of Trade Auditor at Carlsberg Ukraine. The study of the problem consists of considering the reasons for staff turnover, studying working conditions within the company, and analyzing turnover statistics. At the end, practical suggestions are developed and provided to solve the problem, and a plan for their implementation is written.
Andrii Datsiv (Economics and Big Data, 2025)
The rapid integration of digital technologies has transformed economies and societies, reshaping industries, governance, and daily life. Digitalization is driven by increased internet penetration, mobile device adoption, and the expansion of digital services. This transformation has allowed some countries to bypass traditional development stages through technological leapfrogging. However, while some nations successfully embrace digitalization, others struggle with entrenched legacy systems that slow progress.
Oleh Kutnyi (Business Economics, 2025)
While Ukraine wants to join the EU and fight Russian aggression, a significant portion of Europeans still vote for pro-Russian parties. This research uses panel data regressions on the data from 13 EU member states to explain variation in support for pro-Russian parties in parliamentary elections across countries and over time. The paper examines material (dependency on Russian oil and gas) and ideological factors (support for Euroscepticism and conservatism) and their effects. The literature is complemented by approaching the issue from two sides: Russian economic leverage via energy and trade, and internal electoral demand for such parties explained by ideological values; this allows us to compare the importance of each. In contrast to the common answer, this research did not find any support for the universal importance of energy dependency in predicting electoral outcomes. The data suggests that only Euroscepticism might be a strong predictor for votes for pro-Russian political parties, both across countries and over time.
Melnyk Bazir (Business Economics, 2025)
“ESG IN UKRAINE: IS EVERYONE FAKING IT? HOW CAN REAL CHANGE HAPPEN?”
This thesis investigates the authenticity and institutionalization of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices in Ukraine, contextualized within the country’s broader alignment with European Union sustainability mandates. Despite formal commitments to frameworks such as the CSRD and ESRS, ESG implementation in Ukraine remains hindered by epistemic, procedural, and normative gaps. Drawing on original stakeholder interviews, regulatory analysis, and corporate case studies, the research reveals that ESG in Ukraine is often performative-driven more by external funding incentives than internalized governance reforms. The study develops a four-pillar framework – IT, EVERYONE, FAKING, IS – to assess definitional clarity, institutional engagement, structural misalignments, and degrees of authenticity. It concludes that while Ukraine is not deliberately “faking” ESG, the current trajectory risks superficial compliance unless core systemic barriers are addressed. To bridge this gap, the thesis provides targeted consulting recommendations for ESG curriculum development at the Kyiv School of Economics, emphasizing conceptual clarity, regulatory literacy, and cross-functional integration. By highlighting Ukraine’s transitional state between box-ticking and genuine transformation, the work contributes to broader debates on post-war institutional reform, conditionality-driven policy adoption, and the future of sustainable governance in EU candidate states.
Mariia Oliinyk (Business Economics, 2025)
This research examines the differences in charitable giving between the respondents from the United States and Ukraine, particularly in the context of higher education. The United States has a well-established system for raising funds for universities, supported by tax incentives and effective donor engagement practices. This has allowed American universities to build strong, long-term relationships with alumni and donors. In contrast, Ukrainian universities face challenges in attracting private donations due to an underdeveloped fundraising infrastructure and lack of knowledge. However, this is gradually changing, especially with the rise of innovation and boost of external support. For this study a mixed approach was used, combining quantitative analysis of donation data from the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) with qualitative survey data from their donors. Findings reveal that U.S. donors are more likely to support education-related and humanitarian causes, while Ukrainian donors focus on urgent needs especially defense, due to the ongoing war. Male donors tend to contribute more frequently and in larger amounts in both countries. However, alumni connections to alma maters showed little impact on donation behavior to KSE. Based on these insights, Ukrainian universities could improve their fundraising strategies by adopting practices from the U.S., particularly in alumni engagement and developing a more systematic approach to donor relations. These findings offer valuable recommendations to help Ukrainian universities strengthen their fundraising efforts, especially during times of crisis, ensuring the stability and growth of higher education in Ukraine.
Shulevskyi Daniil (Economics and Big Data, 2025)
This capstone project examines the challenges and strategic opportunities facing Perla Helsa, a Ukrainian supplement brand, as it expands into the European Union—focusing particularly on the Polish market. Despite Perla Helsa’s strong performance in Ukraine through influencer-led campaigns and doctor endorsements, similar efforts in Poland have underperformed. The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining structured interviews with the brand’s marketing team, competitive funnel research, and performance data from Meta, SEMrush, and AdClarity. Findings reveal significant differences in consumer behavior, digital engagement, and product perception between the two markets. Key insights highlight the importance of adapting top-of-funnel strategies, leveraging micro-influencers, and concentrating on two core SKUs—marine collagen and biotin capsules—to build trust and optimize conversion in Poland. The project proposes a phased, performance-driven market entry strategy, supported by localized content, regulatory compliance, and a lean but scalable operational model. Financial modeling indicates high margin potential and a cash break-even by Month 4, validating Poland as a profitable launchpad for further EU expansion.
Hohol Oleksandra (Business Economics, 2025)
“DEVELOPING A MULTISEGMENT LUXURY BRAND: LESYA GOGOL”
The paper will represent the business plan in the form of consulting. Lesya Gogol is a Ukrainian artist and handmade master. Lesya has been making toys already for ten years. The toys are being created by an ancient technique called Teddy Bear that was invented by Margarete Steiff many years ago. The toys that L.Gogol creates are small, for around up to ten cm, made from mohair and with jointed limbs. The artist’s works have been sold all around the world at the international platforms that specialize on the certain style of the toys published by the creators from all around the world. The toys are considered to be an elastic luxury good. The artist sells her production on such platforms as Bear Pile [4] and Tedsby [3]. The toy example you can see in the Appendix 1. The project is based on the development of a business developing brand strategy whose goal is to increase brand awareness in the Ukraine, establish multisegmental luxury brand and enter the Ukrainian market. Additionally, the business plan looks through the marketing strategy and developing and launching new segments of product to increase sales in Ukraine. Therefore, the main aims are increasing brand awareness on the Ukrainian market and establishing sustainable profit by developing and launching new production items that will be demanded on the market. Developing a multisegmented luxury brand online retailer with a strong customer loyal base and powerful advocacy.
Yaroslav Khomych & Maksym Pozdnyakov (Software Engineering, 2025)
“BEATRATE – SOCIAL NETWORK FOR MUSIC EVALUATION”
While the digital music landscape is rich with streaming platforms for consumption, it lacks a comprehensive space dedicated to music evaluation, critique, and meaningful social interaction around musical content. This capstone project documents the complete development of BeatRate – a Music Evaluation Platform that addresses this fundamental gap by providing a dedicated social space for music enthusiasts, critics, and artists to rate, review, and discover music while fostering active community engagement. Drawing inspiration from successful platforms like Letterboxd and IMDb for movies, we identified an opportunity to create a similar ecosystem specifically tailored for the music domain. Our initial concept emerged from observing that while streaming platforms excel at music delivery, they fail to provide sophisticated tools for music evaluation and community-driven discovery. Consequently, this project aimed to develop a fully functional web application featuring: (1) a dual rating system supporting both simple (1-10) and sophisticated multi-component evaluations, (2) extensive social features enabling community interaction around musical content, (3) seamless integration with established music services through Spotify API, (4) a scalable microservices architecture capable of supporting future growth, and (5) modern cloud infrastructure deployment using AWS services.