International Forum

The National Technical University «KhPI» hosted the fourth International Scientific and Practical Conference «Current Issues of Social Development in a Society of Change.» The forum brought together over 150 participants from various countries around the world: the United States, Albania, China, Poland, and Ukraine. The keynote speakers were five renowned scholars from the United States: Joseph Mukuni, Carol A. Mullen, Chris Myers, Ellen Glaser, Daniel Eadens, and Marcus Johnson. The conference aimed to serve as a step forward in the development of social sciences and humanities and human capital by combining the expertise of scholars and practitioners. The event was organized by the Institute of Social and Humanitarian Technologies and the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology of Social Systems Management at NTU «KhPI». The event took place online in Ukrainian and English.

For the fourth consecutive year, the International Scientific and Practical Conference «Current Issues in Social Development in a Society of Change» has served as a leading international platform for exchanging experiences and formulating social development strategies. The chair of the forum’s program committee is Yevgen Sokol, Acting Rector of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute,» Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences, and Professor. The plenary session of the forum was opened by Professor Nina Pidbutska, Head of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology of Management of Social Systems of Academician I. A. Zyazyun at NTU «KhPI» (PPSSM). Representatives of the university and institute leadership addressed the participants with welcoming remarks: Gennadiy Khrypunov, Vice Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work at NTU «KhPI», and Andrii Kipenskyi, Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Social and Humanitarian Technologies.

A key feature of the conference remains its strong ties to the U.S. academic community. The American delegation presented research findings in the areas of educational leadership, inclusion, and digital transformation. Keynote presentations were delivered by Joseph Mukuni, Carol A. Mullen, Chris Myers, Ellen Glaser, Daniel Eadens, and Marcus Johnson. The presentations by colleagues from the U.S. underscored NTU «KhPI’s» status as an active participant in the global academic community. Discussions on topics such as virtual leadership and social justice in education are critically important for the development of a modern model of education and social work in Ukraine. In total, over 150 scholars from the United States, Albania, China, Poland, and Ukraine participated in the forum. The conference is intended to serve as an important step in the development of the social sciences and humanities and human capital by bringing together the expertise of scholars and practitioners. According to participants and organizers, the event promotes active exchange of ideas between young and experienced scholars, supports the connection between basic science and social practice, and facilitates the international integration of Ukrainian science in the context of global changes.

As a reminder, the Third International Scientific and Practical Conference «Current Issues in Social Development in a Society of Change» took place on March 27–29, 2025. It was dedicated to the 140th anniversary of NTU «KhPI» and the 25th anniversary of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology of Management of Social Systems of Academician I. A. Zyazyun at NTU «KhPI» (PPSSM)

Note:

IV International Scientific and Practical Conference «Current Issues of Social Development in a Society of Change» was held online on March 26–28, 2026, in Ukrainian and English. The conference was organized by: the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute»; the Educational and Scientific Institute of Social and Humanitarian Technologies; the Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine; the Department of Vocational and Adult Education of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine; Petrosani University (Romania); the Romanian-German University of Sibiu (Romania); Createch Academy (Moldova); Estonian Business School (Estonia); Tampere University School of Management (Finland); University of Virginia School of Education (USA); University of Lyon (France); University of Gdańsk (Poland); Heidelberg University Slavic Institute (Germany).

From education to cybersecurity

Yevgen Sokol, Acting Rector of the National Technical University «KhPI», held a meeting with Minister Plenipotentiary Tarek Adil Kazem, Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Iraq in Ukraine. During the talks, the parties discussed prospects for developing educational and scientific cooperation between NTU «KhPI» and universities in the Republic of Iraq. In particular, proposals were presented regarding the organization of dual-degree programs for Iraqi students and the development of joint scientific research in the field of cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure. Mr. Tarek Adil Kazem highly praised the academic performance of Iraqi students at NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» and expressed his sincere gratitude to the university for its significant contribution to training highly qualified specialists for Iraq.

At a meeting with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Iraq in Ukraine, Minister Plenipotentiary Tarek Adil Kazem, Acting Rector of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» Yevgen Sokol presented proposals for expanding cooperation, in particular regarding the organization of dual-degree programs for Iraqi students. This format provides for the possibility of distance learning in educational programs covering more than 35 specialties at all levels of higher education. Special attention during the discussion was given to the development of joint scientific research in the field of cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure. Serhii Yevseev, Head of the Department of Cybersecurity at NTU «KhPI», participated in the event and presented the main areas of the department’s scientific activity. These include the development of multi-layered protection systems for critical infrastructure, as well as security systems for socio-cyber-physical systems based on post-quantum cryptographic technologies. With the aim of developing scientific partnership, an opportunity was proposed for Iraqi students to pursue online education at the third (educational and scientific) level of education, followed by the defense of dissertations in the field of cybersecurity and information security.

For his part, Mr. Tareq Adil Kazem expressed his willingness to facilitate deeper cooperation between Iraqi universities and NTU «KhPI» and invited university representatives to visit Iraq to hold talks and sign agreements with interested higher education institutions. The Minister Plenipotentiary emphasized his interest in the further development of the partnership in the field of higher education and encouraged Ukrainian students from NTU «KhPI» and other Ukrainian universities to take advantage of the «Study in Iraq» scholarship program. The program was launched by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The meeting took place on March 4, 2026.

StartUP School NTU “KhPI”

The final event of the training phase of the educational project «StartUp School for Students of NTU «KhPI» took place; this is the first time the project has been implemented outside the Kharkiv region—in Kropyvnytskyi. Approximately 100 students in grades 10–11 from the city’s general secondary schools participated in the program. Throughout the training, high school students learn the basics of startup entrepreneurship, innovative thinking, digital technologies, and teamwork. Under the guidance of experienced mentors from NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», they develop their own ideas, analyze the market, identify their target audience, create business models, and present their projects. The program is aimed at developing digital and entrepreneurial competencies among young people. The training takes place in two stages and combines theory with the practical aspects of creating IT startups. The project is implemented under the patronage of the leadership of NTU «KhPI» in cooperation with the Education Department of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council. The organizers are the Startup Center «SPARK» and the university’s Research Department. The next stage of the StartUp School project for schoolchildren in Kropyvnytskyi will begin in late March.

As part of efforts to develop the innovative ecosystem of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute,» the university’s Scientific and Research Department, in collaboration with the «SPARK» Startup Center, has launched its first educational project outside the city of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region. In cooperation with the Education Department of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council, the city launched the educational and innovation project «StartUP School for NTU «KhPI» Students» in the field of computer science. The initiative is being implemented based on a signed cooperation agreement and aims to develop entrepreneurial thinking, an innovative culture, and practical skills for creating startups among schoolchildren. The project is being implemented under the patronage of NTU «KhPI» Rector Yevgen Sokol and NTU «KhPI» Vice Rector for Research Andriy Marchenko. Coordination on the city’s part is provided by Larysa Kostenko, Head of the Education Department of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council.

Participants in the NTU «KhPI» StartUp School are introduced to the fundamentals of startup entrepreneurship, digital technologies, and modern approaches to creating innovative products. Under the guidance of experienced mentors from Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, students develop their own startup ideas, learn to analyze the market, identify their target audience, design business models, and effectively present their solutions. A key feature of the program is the combination of educational content with hands-on work on real-world ideas. Participants work in teams and undergo a series of workshops, training sessions, and consultations, which provides them with a comprehensive understanding of the process of creating innovative products and technological solutions. The training program consists of two stages. During the first stage—the educational and training phase—specialists from NTU «KhPI» introduce students to the fundamentals of IT startups, programming, design, marketing, financial modeling, and pitching. The second stage—the practical stage—involves working on their own startup ideas, creating prototypes, and a final pitch. Classes are scheduled for 24–29 of March, 2026.

The organizers note: «The launch of the StartUP School in Kropyvnytskyi marks an important milestone in the development of interregional cooperation in the fields of education, science, and innovation. The initiative helps foster a culture of entrepreneurship among schoolchildren, develop creative and engineering thinking, and promote engineering and technical education. At the same time, for NTU «KhPI», this is an important step in expanding the university’s innovation ecosystem and sharing startup education expertise across various regions of Ukraine. Such projects help build the future talent pool for the country’s scientific and technological sectors.»

The NTU «KhPI» StartUP School continues to expand the scope of its activities, opening up new opportunities for development, self-realization, and engagement in the modern innovation environment for young people from various regions of Ukraine.

Note:

The StartUP School for High School Students at NTU «KhPI» project has been running at NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» for the second consecutive year. It is organized by the Startup Center «SPARK» at NTU «KhPI» and the Scientific and Research Department of NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute». The grand opening of the interregional scientific and educational project «StartUP School for NTU «KhPI» Students» took place on 7 February, 2026, in Kropyvnytskyi. A photo report from the opening in Kropyvnytskyi can be viewed at the link.

The National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» has been actively engaged in the Kirovohrad region since 2019. Specifically, the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» has established fruitful partnerships with industrial enterprises in the region, including the «Hydrosila» group of companies. Within the framework of this cooperation, educational, scientific, and human resources initiatives are being implemented. Joint activities are aimed at providing practical training for higher education students, developing engineering competencies, and implementing applied scientific research. A significant step was the opening of the NTU «KhPI» representative office in Kropyvnytskyi in 2025, which strengthened the university’s communication with prospective students, educational institutions, and employers in the region. An admissions committee also operates there, providing advisory and organizational support for the admissions campaign. This long-standing presence of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute creates a solid foundation for the further development of the region’s educational and scientific environment.

The city of Kropyvnytskyi is one of the largest industrial centers in central Ukraine, encompassing various sectors; however, a significant portion of its industrial profile is linked to the mineral resources of the Kirovohrad region—particularly its coal deposits—and to the processing of agricultural raw materials. As a major center of the Kirovohrad region, Kropyvnytskyi’s industry encompasses machine building, the food industry, the production of construction materials, and the processing of agricultural products, relying on regional resources, particularly industries related to the region’s mineral resources, where coal and other minerals are extracted. The city has a well-developed infrastructure.

Badminton players won historic bronze

Five sportswomen from Kharkiv Polytechnic University won bronze medals at the European Team Badminton Championships in Turkey for the first time in Ukraine’s history. The winners of the continental championship and authors of this historic achievement were students of the Department of Physical Education of NTU «KhPI»: Sofia Lavrova, Anastasia Alimova, Raiya Almalalha, Polina Bugrova, and Maria Stoliarenko. Another Kharkiv native, Yevgeniya Kantemir, also won bronze as part of the national team. This success allowed the Ukrainian team, the youngest in the championship, to qualify for the most prestigious world team tournament, the Uber Cup, which will take place in April 2026 in Denmark.

Students of the Department of Physical Education of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Social and Humanitarian Technologies of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” Sofia Lavrova, Anastasia Alimova, Raiya Almalalha, Polina Bugrova, and Maria Stoliarenko won bronze medals at the European Team Badminton Championships. Another Kharkiv native, Yevgeniya Kantemir, was also awarded a bronze medal. It should be noted that our team was the youngest among the participants in Istanbul. In the group stage, the Ukrainian women defeated the teams of Estonia and Germany with the same score of 4:1, and in the semifinals lost to the Danish team 0:3. This historic achievement of the Ukrainian women’s team has written a new page in the history of domestic badminton!

Congratulations to our sportswomen and their coaches: Honored Coach of Ukraine, lecturer at the Department of Physical Education at NTU «KhPI» Mykhailo Sterin, as well as graduates of Kharkiv Polytechnic Anna Kryuchkova and Natalia Golovkina on their awards, and we wish them new brilliant victories!