Developing infrastructure for energy sustainability and digital education, together with partners

On 23 April, the Faculty of Electric Power Engineering and Automatics (FEPEA) at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute hosted a presentation of the new infrastructure solutions that strengthen university’s energy autonomy and digital capabilities.

The virtual energy systems modelling laboratory exemplifies successful cooperation with both international and Ukrainian partners. Owing to their support, a comprehensive educational digital environment for modelling complex energy systems has been created. Key contributions include:

• 15 MATLAB software licences granted by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute;

• 25 PowerFactory licences issued by the DMCC Engineering company; and

• 15 modern computers acquired at the expense of the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Development Fund.

The lab was established with the participation of the Swedish Institute within the framework of the international project Ukrainian Sustainable Energy Systems.

The Digital Power Lab has been fully equipped, thanks to Huawei Ukraine. Currently, it is capable of supplying electric power to FEPEA’s structural subdivisions during power outages, enabling the uninterrupted educational process.

The photovoltaic system of guaranteed power supply to the dean’s office and the FEPEA admissions committee was developed with the assistance of the Atmosfera company. This solution ensures the smooth operation of the faculty administration, which is essential during critical periods like examinations and the admission campaign.

 

Swedish special guests visit Kyiv Polytechnic’s library

The reputation of the Scientific and Technical Library named after Hryhorii Denysenko – Rector of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute from 1971 to 1987 – continues to expand, gaining increasing recognition not only in Ukraine but beyond its borders.

Recently, the Kyiv Polytechnic’s library hosted special guests from Sweden comprising Dr Lars Ilshammar, former Deputy Director of the National Library of Sweden; Thord Eriksson, Editor-in-Chief of Biblioteksbladet published by the Swedish Library Association; and photojournalist Åke Ericson.

They were gathering materials for a special issue of the Biblioteksbladet journal, dedicated to the activities of Ukrainian libraries during the war and the preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.

The guests were impressed by how quickly and efficiently the library adapted to difficult, unsafe conditions, proactively applying the cutting-edge technologies to render services to users, the unprecedented scale of the CLUST SPACE smart air raid shelter, as well as by a policy of library’s energy independence.

Kyiv Polytechnic librarians are proud that the resilience and great achievements of the Hryhorii Denysenko Scientific and Technical Library are already recognised in Sweden, and the article about it will reach Biblioteksbladet readers sometime soon.

Kyiv Polytechnic team takes first place in international cybersecurity competition

The DCUA team from the Technical Information Security laboratory at the Institute of Physics and Technology of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute took first place in the Hackfinity Battle CTF (Capture The Flag) 2025 – a large cybersecurity competition that brought together more than 4,300 teams and over 24,000 participants from around the world.

Kyiv Polytechnic’s victorious team included Dmytro Kryhin, Oleksii Bondarenko, David Shanidze, Volodymyr Duduladenko, and Yurii Prykhodko.

Teams solved practical cybersecurity challenges in diverse areas of knowledge that allowed participants to put their skills to test. Each challenge had one or more flags (a string of text) that served as proof of achieving the expected goal. Teams earned score points for captured flags.

The competition was held online via the TryHackMe (THM) platform. The DCUA team secured a $1,000 cash prize, while each team player also received Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), a 12-month THM subscription, a SAL1 Exam voucher, and other prizes.

In a digital age when Russia attempts to destabilise European countries with acts of terrorism, sabotage and cyber-attacks, the triumph of Kyiv Polytechnic’s DCUA team signals not only technical brilliance but also the rising talent of Ukraine’s next generation of cyber guardians.

Advancing sustainable funding for higher education

Andrii Shysholin, Vice-Rector for International Relations, (pictured left) represented the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute at the meeting of CESAER’s Task Force Sustainable Funding, hosted by the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) on March 26-27.

It is with great enthusiasm that he contributed to activities of this international association of leading specialised and comprehensive universities with a strong science and technology profile. Engaging in meaningful discussions about securing sustainable funding for higher education, and innovative financial strategies for universities is crucial to ensuring higher education’s resilience and global competitiveness.

Kyiv Polytechnic is committed to enhancing international collaboration, optimising funding mechanisms, and driving impactful projects. The insightful discussions at the meeting will undoubtedly strengthen university’s strategic international initiatives.

Special thanks are due to the CESAER team and WUT hosts for their warm hospitality and excellent organisation. The Kyiv Polytechnic’s International Collaboration Department eagerly anticipates further dialogue and the formation of new partnerships.

During his time in Poland, Andrii Shysholin also met with Ukrainian students studying at Polish universities, who have undertaken the “European Ukraine” initiative. This organisation works flat out to support, unite, and facilitate the social integration of Ukrainian students in Poland.

This meeting addressed key challenges faced by Ukrainian students abroad, including adaptation to the academic environment, career opportunities, preserving national identity, and fostering cooperation between universities in Ukraine and Poland. Participants in the meeting also outlined prospects for collaboration between “European Ukraine” and Kyiv Polytechnic’s student organisations. The Vice-Rector strongly believes that joining efforts will improve communication, advance new joint initiatives, and expand opportunities for students both in Ukraine and abroad.

Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute remains open to cooperation and is committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to the international development of Ukrainian youth.

Kyiv Polytechnic expands cooperation with Japanese partners

The Ukraine-Japan Center at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute recently welcomed important partners – representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the PADECO development consulting firm, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine – to discuss the development of vocational education in Ukraine.

Remarkably, JICA and the Ministry of Education and Science have chosen Kyiv Polytechnic to undertake this vital initiative, paving the way for prospective projects that will potentially span educational, research, and cultural spheres, including:

– Organization of Japanese language courses tailored for technical fields, awarding partial educational qualifications upon completion;

– Upskilling of engineers, and traineeships for staff of vocational colleges in heat pump maintenance, supported by Panasonic’s material and technical resources;

– Short courses and certification programs on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, business and management, combining the experience and expertise of Japanese colleagues and specialists at Kyiv Polytechnic’s Faculty of Management and Marketing;

– Introduction to the fundamentals of the tea ceremony and traditional Japanese cuisine, led by educators and partners of the Ukraine-Japan Center, including Chef Yoshihirio Fujiwara, a goodwill ambassador for the promotion of Japanese cuisine.

This collaboration signifies a meaningful step in bridging cultures, and equipping Ukraine’s workforce with invaluable expertise.

Professor of NTU «KhPI» works as visiting expert at University of Azerbaijan

Ihor Kononenko, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of Project Management in Information Technology Department at NTU «KhPI», has been invited to cooperate with the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction. The program includes two courses of lectures and a scientific seminar «Formalising the formation of the project team» dedicated to the role of information technology in project management. The period of Ihor Kononenko’s stay at the University of Azerbaijan as a visiting professor is one semester.

Ihor Kononenko, a leading expert at NTU «KhPI», is giving two lecture courses: «Project Management» and «Organizational Behavior». They are addressed to the students of the Project Management Department of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction (AUAC), who are studying under the MBA (Master of Business Administration) top management program.

On December 5, a seminar “Formalization of Project Team Formation” was held for professors, lecturers of the department and masters. The materials of the report were based on the joint scientific developments of Ihor Kononenko, Professor of Kharkiv Polytechnic, and his graduate student Hlib Sushka.

The seminar focused on the impact of project team composition on the final quality of the product. Professor Kononenko presented a mathematical model that optimizes the process of selecting potential candidates. He emphasized that traditional ways of forming a project team do not guarantee an effective result. The reason is the uncertainty of the initial data when assessing the professional competence of dozens or even hundreds of applicants. This is where mathematical models and information technology methods come in handy to identify the most useful project team members and form a harmonious group.

At the end of the seminar, the lecturer from Kharkiv Polytechnic demonstrated the work of a mathematical model in forming an IT project team and optimizing its composition. He also predicted how further research in this area could develop.

This is the second collaboration between Igor Kononenko, professor of NTU «KhPI», and AUAB as a invited expert. For the first time, he visited the university in the spring semester of 2024: he gave lectures, as well as conducted a business game with students called «Interview with a Candidate for a Vacant Position» and a scientific seminar «Models and Methods for Synthesizing an Approach to Project Management». Together with Azerbaijani colleagues, a scientific article «Solving the Problem of Ranking Project Team Candidates with Fuzzy Assessment of Competencies and Requirements» was published and indexed in Scopus.

Note:

Ihor Kononenko is a professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, winner of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology. In 2000, he founded the first Ukrainian Department of Strategic Management (now the Department of Project Management in Information Technology) at NTU «KhPI», which he headed until 2020.

– List of other positions held by Ihor Kononenko:

National Expert of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in 1995-1996, Deputy Director for Research at the Institute of Machines and Systems of the Ministry of Industrial Policy and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in 1993-2002, Vice President of the Union of Entrepreneurs of Kharkiv Region in 2011-2014.

– In business:

As a practicing scientist, Professor Kononenko has led the preparation of more than 50 investment projects. Including for the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Industrial Policy, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Imprimatur Capital Ltd (UK) and other companies.

– Research and educational activities:

Ihor Kononenko’s academic achievements include more than 270 scientific papers and 8 books on information technology in forecasting, strategic and project management.

Professor of NTU «KhPI» Ihor Kononenko has extensive experience as a visiting expert abroad. He has lectured at WSB University in Opole and Lodz University of Technology (Poland), and worked as a researcher at the Western University of Timisoara (Romania).

Finnish companies visit Kyiv Polytechnic to establish cooperation

Under the auspices of the Rebuild Ukraine Office, representatives of top Finnish companies visited the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute to explore avenues of cooperation. Among the guests were experts with extensive experience in many areas vital for the university, including:

– Advanced materials,

– Waste recycling,

– Energy-efficient technologies in heating and cooling systems,

– Biomedical engineering.

Representatives from Kimmelux, Toivo Group, Circulation, Grow Capital, Indufor, and Arctic Warm expressed a keen interest in joining ReBuild projects, particularly in the R&D area, which are aimed at renovating and enhancing Ukraine’s functional capabilities.

“Finland has made a giant leap in technology over time,” said Kyiv Polytechnic Rector Anatolii Melnychenko. “Their experience in implementing technologies and building up a high-tech nation is vitally important for us. We need to study it – this is the first component. The second is the high technological culture of the Finns. Our university should train engineers in new approaches to applying technology to business, industry, and the economy.”

One of the first joint initiatives involving the representatives of Finnish companies will be the International Forum “Innovations in Medical Engineering,” slated for May. Organized by Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, the Sikorsky Challenge Innovation Ecosystem, and other partners, the forum is expected to serve as a platform for advancing cooperation and technological innovation.

Dialog between Kyiv Polytechnic and French partners continues

Recently, representatives from the Defense Innovation Agency at the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France, along with Héloїse Marmouset de la Taille, attaché for university and scientific cooperation at the Embassy of France in Ukraine, visited the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. This visit reaffirmed the ongoing dialogue between Kyiv Polytechnic and the French Embassy, reinforcing their shared interest in collaborative projects.

The partnership aims to expand Kyiv Polytechnic’s capabilities in biomedical engineering, particularly in prosthetics and rehabilitation.

“Your hands-on experience in prosthetic manufacturing and related research is inspiring,” said Héloїse Marmouset de la Taille. “It is of great interest to us, as we are also implementing several programs to support war veterans.”

During the meeting, participants exchanged technical expertise in regenerative medicine, prosthetics, physical and psychological rehabilitation. They also discussed veterans’ support policies, mobility opportunities, and exchange programs for Ukrainian and French veterans.

Oleksandr Halkin, Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, presented a unique certificate program in prosthetic engineering and technology. Nataliia Seminska, Director of the Training and Innovation Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation, gave a presentation on the Science Park of Additive Technologies, which is developing cutting-edge medical solutions.

The French delegation visited the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Laboratory of Additive Technologies in Prosthetics, where students, scientists and partners design and refine prosthetic sockets, orthoses, and specialized fasteners.

Hopefully, this cooperation will contribute to impactful innovations and support the rehabilitation of Ukrainian war veterans, helping them return to active life.

Kharkiv Polytechnic develops cooperation with the University of Slovakia under the Erasmus+ program

Scientists of Kharkiv Polytechnic joined the international week of the Erasmus + program, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Bratislava University of Economics and Management (Slovakia).  They took part in workshops and discussions on the topic «Innovative Horizons: Integrating Global Connectivity and Artificial Intelligence into Modern University Education». Teachers of NTU «KhPI» gave lectures and practical classes, shared their experience of implementing modern digital tools in the educational process, and presented the Innovation Campus and Startup Center «Spark» projects at NTU «KhPI». During the events, the issues of continuing cooperation and resumption of the double degree program between NTU «KhPI» and the University of Bratislava were discussed. The event brought together teachers and researchers from universities in Ukraine, Slovakia, Portugal, Bulgaria and Georgia.

Professor of the Department of System analysis and information-analytical technologies Tetyana Aleksandrova, Head of the Department of Information Systems and Technologies Olena Nikulina, Head of the Project Management in Information Technology Department Marina Grinchenko, and Coordinator of Academic Mobility and Double Degree Programs between NTU «KhPI» and Bratislava University of Economics and Management (BUEM, Slovakia) Oksana Ivashchenko, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Software Engineering and Management Intelligent Technologies, took part in the event Erasmus+.The event was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the University of Bratislava.

Scientists from the Educational and Scientific Institute of Computer Science and Information Technologies of NTU «KhPI» joined workshops and discussions on the topic «Innovative Horizons: Integration of Global Connectivity and Artificial Intelligence into Modern University Education». For example, Marina Grinchenko,, a professor at the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», told her foreign colleagues about the introduction of modern digital tools into the educational process of Kharkiv Polytechnic. She noted that one of the key steps was the introduction of the MS Office 365 corporate system, which provides the university with a multifunctional environment for on-line education. For her part, Professor Olena Nikulina presented the «Innovation Campus of NTU «KhPI», the first and only project in Ukraine based on a state higher education institution that combines IT training, an entrepreneurship school, and coworking. Ivan Lysenko, a student of NTU «KhPI», shared his practical experience of studying and implementing his own projects within this program.

Professors of NTU «KhPI» conducted lectures and practical classes for students of the University of Bratislava. Thus, one of the lectures by Professor Tetyana Aleksandrova was devoted to the project of the Startup Center «Spark» of NTU «KhPI», whose activities are aimed at forming innovative thinking among students, teachers and young scientists, and creating favorable conditions for launching startups. The lecture by Marina Grinchenko, a researcher at NTU «KhPI», was about «Project Life Cycle, Risk Management in Projects». She emphasized the importance of clear planning and control at each stage of the project, and gave examples of startup implementation.  For her part, lecturer Olena Nikulina spoke about the development of Use Case Diagrams and Interaction Diagrams. The lesson was held in the format of a game: management students acted as customers of the software application, and IT students, under the guidance of the NTU «KhPI» lecturer, developed diagrams using the Unified Modeling Language. As a result, the software functionality necessary for marketers was created. The participants of the Erasmus+ program – students of Kharkiv Polytechnic Hanna Guba and Ivan Lysenko – took an active part in this exciting event.

Pedro Pinheiro, President of the Lisbon School of Accounting and Administration, University of Lisbon Luciada (Portugal), Doctor of Philosophy in Management, held an interesting workshop dedicated the using of new integrated digital artificial intelligence (AI) tools to increase student engagement and improve learning outcomes. An agreement was reached between the scientist and NTU «KhPI» scientists on further cooperation. Soon, for example, Pedro Pinheiro will give a lecture on «AI-based tools for increasing research productivity» for postgraduate students of NTU «KhPI».

One of the important events of the visit of the Kharkiv Polytechnic teachers to BUEM was their meeting with the rector of this higher educational institution PhD MBA institution, Associate Professor Lubos Tsybak. They discussed the continuation of work under the Erasmus+ program and the resumption of the double degree project between NTU «KhPI» and BUEM. The Rector of Bratislava University of Economics and Management awarded Kharkiv Polytechnic «for the development of innovative activities in higher education and long-term cooperation in the field of science and education».

This event was held according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 17 «Partnerships for the goals»).

The International Week  of Erasmus+ program took place on 25-29 November, 2024 at the Bratislava University of Economics and Management (Slovakia). The event was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of this higher education institution.

Over the two decades of its existence, Bratislava University of Economics and Management has graduated more than 20,000 students. The cooperation between NTU «KhPI» and BUEM began in 2018. In 2019, an agreement was signed to open a joint master’s program. Six students of Kharkiv Polytechnic have already received diplomas from the two partner universities and are working in Slovak and international IT companies.

Since 2021, cooperation under the Erasmus+ program has been implemented: four Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute teachers have participated in short-term exchanges, one graduate student has completed an internship, and seven students have joined this program.

Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Melexis-Ukraine deepen cooperation

On August 21, 2024, the Melexis-Ukraine company handed over a set of modern electronic equipment to Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) to equip a joint educational and research laboratory at the Faculty of Electronics (FEL). The transfer agreement was signed by Yevhen Vasiur, company’s director, and KPI Rector Anatolii Melnychenko.

It is worth noting that the provision of this equipment does not signify the commencement of cooperation between the university and the company, but rather its continuation and expansion. In fact, the partnership between KPI and Melexis dates back torn2007 when they opened a joint research and training laboratory at the KPI Institute for Applied System Analysis. Subsequently, the company established a scholarship for the top polytechnic students who serve their internships there, and then launched a program of collaboration with teachers.

In addition, a program for the academic discipline of analog electronics was drawn up and agreed with Melexis-Ukraine specialists. In 2018, another KPI-Melexis analog electronics training and research laboratory was opened at the Faculty of Electronics with six workplaces. The equipment provided by Melexis-Ukraine on August 21, 2024, is specifically intended for this laboratory. It will increase the number of workplaces in the laboratory to 10 and enable students to master the most modern tools for engineering and scientific activities – the same tools currently used by Melexis professionals.

According to Yevhen Vasiur, the KPI Faculty of Electronics also received a setup board, a smart power supply, a signal generator, an oscilloscope for relevant measurements, and a multimeter. This equipment will help students acquire practical skills in using modern equipment, complementing their theoretical knowledge.

The signing ceremony was preceded by a discussion about new horizons of cooperation. In particular, Rector Anatolii Melnychenko highlighted the inviting prospects for both the company and the university by providing dual education at the FEL and certification programs, among others. He suggested starting work on implementing this idea. This initiative seems logical for the company, given that about 40% of its employees are KPI graduates, according to Melexis-Ukraine HR officer Olha Prykhodko.

FEL Acting Dean Serhii Naida said the new laboratory equipment would enter service at the start of the academic year. “We have a mixed mode of the educational process, and laboratory work will be conducted in person,” he noted. “The laboratory has 10 workplaces equipped with modern analog circuitry and will be used for both lab work and research. Students in the third year at KPI are supposed to work in this laboratory.”

Melexis is an international high-tech company specializing in the development of innovative analogue and digital integrated circuits, including various types of sensors and motor control circuits, mainly for the automotive industry and wireless communication systems. Headquartered in Belgium, the company has offices in 19rncountries across three continents.