A delegation from the State Tax University in Irpin, led by Rector Dmytro Serebrianskyi and including five students, attended the Ukraine Business Network's quarterly War & Business Live event in Kyiv.
The event brought together more than 120 English-speaking business owners, political figures and senior executives from Ukrainian and international companies operating in the country.
Ukraine Business Network, part of the Ukraine Business News (UBN) brand, organizes quarterly events focused on the economic and business developments shaping Ukraine. The latest event examined the country's economic outlook and how companies are not only operating and adapting during the war, but also expanding and continuing to invest in Ukraine.
Mykola Kolisnyk, Chief Operating Officer of Naftogaz, discussed the company's preparations for the upcoming winter, which is expected to be one of the most difficult Ukraine has faced.
Other speakers included Cezary Urban, Country Manager of BASF Ukraine; Markku Rentto, Head of Reka Industrial; and Daniel Aspleaf, founder of CDM Engineering. They discussed the state of business after nearly five years of full-scale war and the strategies companies are using to remain operational under extremely challenging conditions.
For the State Tax University delegation, the event provided a firsthand look at the realities of running businesses during wartime, including keeping employees safe, preserving jobs, offering competitive salaries and remaining profitable while Russia continues to target businesses, warehouses, energy infrastructure and other facilities across Ukraine.
The students also had an opportunity to speak with senior executives and learn more about Ukraine's economic future, investment potential and postwar reconstruction.
"I believe our students gained valuable experience by speaking with business owners and networking with senior executives," Rector Dmytro Serebrianskyi said. "In the future, they may be looking for internships or employment opportunities. This event helped them understand the importance of networking and how professional relationships can lead to internships, employment and successful careers after graduation."
Operating under Ukraine's Ministry of Finance, the State Tax University is one of the country's longest-established public universities. The university prepares specialists in taxation, accounting, finance, journalism and related disciplines. It graduates hundreds of students annually who go on to work in tax and customs authorities, accounting, journalism, major private-sector companies and other critical areas of the Ukrainian economy.
Ukraine Business Network plans to continue its cooperation with the State Tax University, with students invited to future quarterly events in Kyiv.
As Ukraine faces a significant shortage of qualified professionals, giving students direct exposure to experienced business leaders and potential employers can help bridge the gap between university education and the labor market. Such engagement can also help prepare a new generation of professionals to contribute to Ukrainian companies, public institutions and the country's long-term economic development and reconstruction.
