On 21 October 2026, Friends of KSE held its inaugural event in London, bringing together British politicians, public sector representatives and business leaders in support of Ukrainian education.
The organisation was founded by Amber Rudd, Nick Boles, Margot James, Simone Finn, Emily Benn and Katie Perrior. They bring extensive experience in British politics, public administration and business, and have consistently supported Ukraine.
Amber Rudd served as UK Home Secretary; Nick Boles was Minister of State for Skills and a Member of Parliament; and Margot James served as Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries and as a Member of Parliament.
One of Friends of KSE’s key priorities is providing scholarships for Ukrainian defenders, including veterans and wounded service personnel seeking to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate degrees at KSE, as well as for the children of military personnel.
The founders of Friends of KSE have joined forces to mobilise international resources for Ukrainian students and the development of the Kyiv School of Economics. The organisation will expand the network of partners helping make high-quality education at KSE University accessible to Ukrainians, particularly those whose educational and professional paths have been shaped by the war.
On 23 October, The Times published an opinion piece by Amber Rudd on supporting Ukrainian education. She called on British businesses to invest in Ukraine’s younger generation — the future engineers, innovators, economists and entrepreneurs. Rudd also introduced the first Friends of KSE scholarship campaign.
Read more on KSE Foundation.
