A delegation from the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), led by Cristian Tabacaru, Director of Loans and Social Development, visited the State Tax University.
The visit began with a tour of the university grounds. Acting Rector of STU, Dmytro Serebrianskyi, met the guests and presented the educational institution, speaking about the scale of destruction it suffered during the city's occupation in 2022 and the ongoing recovery processes.
The delegation inspected the campus, visited academic buildings, classrooms, and most importantly, the Central Building, which sustained the most significant damage. The results of the international architectural competition for the reconstruction of the university's main building were also presented.
During the working meeting, the head of STU presented the vision for future infrastructure reconstruction. Dmytro Serebrianskyi noted that two groups of international experts are currently working on the concept: one collaborates with Harvard, and the other with British architects and institutions. The university is also assisted by an international team from the architectural company Stantec from Canada, the competition winners, with whom the university maintains constant contact. "Our task is to create a model for the building of the future that will go far beyond traditional classrooms and offices."
The new building is planned to include modern communication spaces, conference halls, areas for official meetings, research institutes, and new-generation licensed training classrooms, as well as a modern shelter space. Special emphasis is placed on creating dedicated discussion spaces – platforms for public debates, scientific events, and student initiatives.
A separate component is an innovative center for advanced training in public finance. The university team is already studying international experience: in particular, they have familiarized themselves with models of such institutions in the Netherlands and Great Britain. This experience is planned to be integrated into their own project to create a modern school for training and professional development for specialists in the financial and fiscal system.
During the meeting, Cristian Tabacaru presented the activities of the Council of Europe Development Bank and outlined opportunities for cooperation: "The Council of Europe Development Bank is an international financial institution with a unique social mandate. Ukraine joined the bank only two years ago and has become an active participant in our programs. Our key partner is the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. We finance reconstruction projects, housing programs, and also support internally displaced persons. We are ready to share our experience and assist in the university's reconstruction."
Mr. Cristian also added that the CEB is interested in long-term cooperation with the university and is considering the possibility of participating in projects for the institution's infrastructure recovery.
The parties agreed to continue working on potential areas of cooperation, particularly regarding the reconstruction of the Central Building and the development of educational infrastructure.
"Today, STU continues to work despite all challenges: it educates, recovers, supports people, and moves forward. We preserve the memory of what we have experienced and build the future together," emphasized Dmytro Serebrianskyi.
The visit of the CEB delegation was an important step in strengthening international partnership and expanding opportunities for the reconstruction of the State Tax University.
