All-Ukrainian Forum “Educational Leadership Days – 2026”
On June 5, Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic University became a platform for a large-scale professional dialogue about the future of Ukrainian education and science. The All-Ukrainian Forum «Days of Educational Leadership – 2026» united more than 1,000 participants from different regions of Ukraine — representatives of higher education institutions, state authorities, business, the scientific community, and student self-government — around the topical theme: «Between rules and reality: flexibility without loss of quality.»
The forum was held with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Union of Regional Organizations of Employers of Metallurgical Complex Enterprises «Federation of Metallurgists of Ukraine», the Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Public Union «Zaporizhzhia Cluster »Engineering – Automation – Mechanical Engineering«» and SE «IVCHENKO-PROGRESS».
The participants were greeted by Viktor Greshta, rector of Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic University, Yuliya Hryshina, head of the subcommittee on higher education of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, Mykola Trofymenko, deputy minister of education and science of Ukraine, and Olena Kolesnikova, head of the Industry Council for the Development of Professional Standards and Strategy for the Development of Professional Qualifications of the Federation of Metallurgists of Ukraine.
A special event of the forum was the opening of the Center for the Engineering of Robotic Production Systems HI-RISE (High-tech Robotics Innovation & Systems Excellence). The new center is designed to become a center for the development of innovative technologies, robotics, engineering solutions and cooperation of the university with industrial partners, which is extremely important for the recovery and modernization of the Ukrainian economy.
The program of the event included the work of two discussion platforms. During the first panel – «Educational activity: quality, flexibility and a new model of university education» – the participants discussed the transformation of educational programs, an interdisciplinary approach to learning, the interaction of universities with employers, the impact of artificial intelligence on the educational process and the training of specialists in accordance with the needs of the modern labor market.
The second panel – «University scientific activity in new realities: performance, innovation, transfer and sustainability» – was devoted to the issues of development of university science, grant activity, implementation of innovations, cooperation with business and the use of modern digital technologies in scientific research.
Throughout the day, there were meaningful discussions, discussions of current problems and prospects for the development of education and science, exchange of experience between representatives of various universities and regions. This kind of open professional dialogue makes it possible to form new approaches, to give birth to common ideas and to find effective solutions for the development of the educational sector.
The forum once again confirmed the role of Zaporizhzhia as a powerful educational and scientific center of Ukraine. Despite all the challenges of today, the city remains a meeting place for the professional community, a space for the birth of new partnerships, the implementation of innovative projects and the development of youth and academic initiatives.
A special place in the program of the event was occupied by the youth section «Students as co-creators of the university: where rules end and opportunities begin», which united active student youth from different regions of Ukraine.
All-Ukrainian Forum «Days of Educational Leadership – 2026» became an example of effective cooperation between the state, universities, business and the student community. This kind of interaction today forms the basis for the development of quality education, competitive science and the training of specialists who will rebuild and develop Ukraine.
We sincerely thank the organizers, partners, speakers and all participants of the forum for professional dialogue, new ideas, constructive discussions and joint work for the future of Ukrainian education and science. Together we are forming educational leadership, which will become a reliable foundation of a strong and successful Ukraine!
