Description
Kyiv School of Economics & Prague Civil Society Centre invite participants from all over the world to Summer School “How Is Ukraine Different?”
At the beginning of 2014, the former president and his allies fled from Ukraine as a result of a popular uprising known as the Euromaidan, leaving the Ukrainian government practically dysfunctional in the face of economic crisis and military aggression. Numerous volunteer initiatives that flourished during Euromaidan, or shortly afterwards, partly took on the state functions – from defence to social support and legislation development. Many of the volunteers and civil society activists were either elected to parliament in the fall of 2014 or entered the executive branch of the government to implement reforms from within. They immediately faced resistance from the old bureaucratic system. Despite that, many of the reforms implemented by the new government, with the help of the international community, turned out quite successfully. Nevertheless, Ukraine has still a long way to go.
Participants of the summer school will learn about the Ukrainian reform experience from insiders – government representatives, civil activists and members of international organisations that have been deeply involved into the ongoing transformation process.
The programme will be led by the Kyiv School of Economics. Many KSE graduates currently work for the government and NGOs and actively participate in the Ukraine reform process, while KSE professors and researchers are involved in technical assistance programmes provided by international organisations for the Ukrainian government. In early 2014, a group of KSE graduates organised an analytical platform, VoxUkraine (registered as NGO since 2015), which has become a leading outlet for professional policy discussion and a source of high-quality information on Ukraine for international audiences.
Aim: Introduce participants to the main economic reforms in Ukraine since 2014 and highlight the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the implementation of these reforms.
Programme of activities
- Lectures
- One trip to the region over weekend to see how local activists, together with local governments, change their cities
- Airport assistance (transfers)
- Airplane tickets (only for participants with PCSC scholarships)
- Welcome dinner
- Accommodation in single bed rooms, breakfast included
- Participants will be provided with lunch and coffee breaks during the working days of Summer School and an additional $10 (equivalent amount in Ukrainian Hryvnia) as per day to cover their dinner and other small costs (per diem will be provided in cash upon arrival to Kyiv)
- Farewell Party
- Student card with access to KSE facilities
- Access to KSE student computer lab
- Access to the KSE library
- Certificate for programme completion
Topics to be covered during the summer school:
- Introduction to Ukrainian economy. Major economic developments in Ukraine since 1991 and current situation. Oligarchs as a major problem of Ukrainian economy. Reformers, reactionaries and society.
- Monetary policy and banking sector reform. Transformation of the National Bank of Ukraine, switch to inflation targeting and clean-up of the banking sector.
- Fiscal consolidation and tax reform. Reducing budget deficit and simultaneously cutting taxes at the time of economic crisis. How the government managed to hold state finances together.
- State procurement and state-owned enterprise reform. Two reforms that should result in the highest savings for the state – e-procurement (successful) and state-owned enterprises (so far progress is modest)
- Education and healthcare reform. Achieving higher quality while reducing spending. Ukrainian experience in reforming education and healthcare systems which suffer from common problems – large number of low-quality facilities, low quality of services, and deeply vested interests that oppose every reform attempt.
- Decentralization reform. Changing the lives of local communities and the role of local activists in this process
- Energy sector. Why one of the poorest countries in Europe is the least energy efficient, and what has been done during the last three years to change the situation.
- Protecting law and order. Judicial and police reform – the progress of Ukraine towards a state governed by laws rather than informal arrangements.
- The war in Donbas. In 2014, volunteers were at the hottest points of both the front and the hinterland. These people still play a very important role in the modernisation of the army and accommodating internally displaced people. Participants will meet some of them and learn about their experience.
- Is Ukraine different? (From the point of view of international organisations and investors). Representatives of international organisations, investment funds and business associations will share their experience with Ukraine. What are the major obstacles for investment and what has changed since 2014?
- Corruption: A symptom, a problem or an inherent feature? Corruption is the number one concern for Ukrainians and foreign investors. Anti-corruption reforms were the main requirement for getting the visa-free travel regime with the EU. They also were included in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement. But participants will learn how the major corruption-reducing reforms were not the ones directly focused on corruption.
Ukraine
Duration: June 26 – July 8th 2017 (2 weeks)
Tuition fee: 1,350 USD (accommodation, food and trip to region included)
Language: English
Note: Local transport costs in the country of origin will not be reimbursed.
Visa information:
Citizens of former USSR countries can travel to Ukraine visa-free. Citizens of EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, US and Canada can stay in Ukraine visa-free for 90 days.
Contact person: Ilona Sologoub, KSE senior economist
Who can apply?
The call is open for applicants from former Soviet Union countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and to applicants from EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, US and Canada.
The call is open for:
- Master’s or higher level students and Early-Stage Researchers (ESR) in economics, political science, international relations, East European studies, law or similar academic programmes
- Representatives of think tanks, experts and policymakers who are interested in learning more about the Ukrainian reform experience
- Civil society activists, human rights defenders and independent lawyers
- Business and labour leaders
- Journalists, online activists and bloggers
Application Deadlines
The early application deadline for applicants who want to apply for the Prague Civil Society Centre scholarship is Friday, 31 March 2017.
The final application deadline for self-paying applicants is Monday, 15 May 2017. Please be aware that application decisions are made on a rolling basis. There are a limited number of spaces available for the Summer School, and spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
The tuition fee is $1,350 (USD)
Early decision applicants will receive a $350 (USD) discount on the programme fee. A non-refundable deposit of $300 (USD) will be required before the final application deadline.
Who can apply for PCSC scholarship?
Applicants from the following countries can apply for the Prague Civil Society Centre (PCSC) scholarship: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
If selected, the PCSC will cover travel costs to Kyiv and pay the tuition fee for their participation in the Summer School.
To be eligible for the PCSC scholarship, applicants are expected to have substantial experience and a proven track-record of work intended to promote democracy and counter corruption, to advance open, just and fair societies and promote the principles of human rights and freedoms in their country.
PCSC will offer 20 scholarships. In selection, the jury will evaluate educational background, professional experience, record of achievements and the relevance of their civil and social activities. The selection jury will take into consideration the country background of applicants in order to have participation from a number of different countries. To facilitate not only cross-border but also cross-disciplinary interactions and exchanges, the jury will try to select a mixed group of participants with different professional backgrounds. The jury will also consider how the applicants can use the information, knowledge and contacts they will gain during the Summer School, and the capacity of participants to share information back home through media, social networks or through future research, analytical or educational work.
How to apply?
Applicants must complete and submit the following materials:
- Online application form
- CV
- Motivation letter (one page, double-spaced) stating:
- Why this particular programme is of interest to you
- How the programme is relevant to your current studies, your interests, your activism or your professional goals
- How you might use and disseminate the new information, knowledge, experience you will gain at the summer school back in your own country
- What you think you will get out of the program
- Contacts of three people who can provide references about your accomplishments
- For applicants for the PCSC Scholarship, it is necessary to add two recommendation letters which provide references about your engagement and activities in civil society.
Please send your applications (in English) to the address [email protected]а
– Before Friday, 31 March 2017 if you require a PCSC scholarship
– Before Monday, 15 May 2017 if you are self-funded or funded from other sources