Council of the Fund of the President of Ukraine: results of 2025 and priorities for 2026

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‘Strengths’ and talent retention strategy: The Council of the Fund of the President of Ukraine summarised the results of 2025 and set priorities for supporting talented young people in 2026

A meeting of the Council of the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports was held at the Office of the President of Ukraine. The key topic of the meeting was the transformation of approaches to human capital development: from targeted support to the creation of a holistic ecosystem that will motivate talented young people to tie their future to Ukraine.

The meeting participants summarised the results of 2025 and approved priorities for 2026, focusing on the analysis of educational trajectories, international cooperation, and strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian universities.

Results of 2025: scaling up support

This year, the Fund of the President of Ukraine focused its efforts on supporting talented schoolchildren, students, and young scientists, and significantly expanded the range of its programmes. This year, more than 400 students received scholarships from the President of Ukraine. Among them are nearly 300 applicants who scored 185+ points on the National Multidisciplinary Test in all subjects, four winners of international Olympiads, and 115 winners of national Olympiads in academic subjects.

"This year, we began to put the Fund of the President of Ukraine on the global talent management map. We have applied for membership in the European Talent Support Network and the World Council for Gifted Children, and have begun cooperating with organisations involved in talent development in the United States, Great Britain, South Korea, Germany, Denmark, and Canada. This opens up access to the best global practices, networking, and the creation of joint programmes to support talented young people. At the same time, the Fund of the President of Ukraine has the ambition to become a Ukrainian analytical think tank in the field of talent management, to be an expert support for human capital development for state policy, science, and business,"

— said Yuriy Petrushenko, acting director of the Fund of the President of Ukraine.

New strategy: research and ‘Points of Strength.’

The central issue of the meeting was the presentation of the concept ‘The Path of Talent Development.’ The Fund of the President of Ukraine is initiating a large-scale study to understand the motivation of young people who choose to study in Ukrainian institutions or abroad and to identify the competitive advantages of Ukrainian education.

"We propose to focus on creating national educational and scientific hubs—so-called “points of strength”. We will identify faculties and research centres that are already demonstrating high results and direct our strategic investments there: inviting foreign professors, upgrading laboratories, dual degree programmes, in particular with universities in the United Kingdom. Our goal is for talented children to clearly understand that in Ukraine they will receive a world-class education and clear career prospects,"

— emphasised Olga Budnyk, Advisor-Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports.

Interaction between the state and young people

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Olena Kovalska, stressed that the work of the Fund of the President of Ukraine is an integral part of the state policy of preserving the nation.

‘Today, I would focus on programmes and initiatives that ensure the widest possible coverage of young people—the creation of joint educational programmes with the world's best universities, the development of university sports, campuses and further career prospects in close cooperation with business, so that students can see their path in Ukraine while still at university,’

— said Olena Kovalska.

Systematic and inclusive

Iryna Tulyakova, Head of the Council of the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sports, emphasised the importance of community building and taking into account the educational needs of gifted young people.

"Our children who win academic competitions require a special approach and an environment of like-minded people. The Fund of the President of Ukraine should become not only a source of funding for them, but also a platform for networking and mentoring. We are working to ensure that every talented person feels important to the state and has the tools to realise their potential at home,"

— concluded Iryna Tulyakova.

Sports as a separate priority

A separate block of discussion concerned support for young athletes. A study on the state and use of sports infrastructure in higher education institutions is planned for 2026, as well as the introduction of special scholarships for university education for young people with significant sporting achievements. This is a joint initiative with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

The Fund of the President of Ukraine thanks the members of the Fund’s Council, Deputies, government representatives, and all meeting participants and partners for their constructive work. The Fund of the President of Ukraine will continue to invest in education, science, and sports, supporting young people who are shaping the intellectual and leadership potential for the restoration and development of the state.