HR Workshop 5.0: Empowering Ukraine’s Public‑Sector HR Leaders

In mid‑July, the fifth round of the HR Workshop began, bringing together 35 HR professionals from national and local public institutions across Ukraine. Over the next three months, participants will take part in a hands-on, practice-focused training programme aimed at strengthening HR capacity in the civil service. The course is delivered as part of the EU-funded EU4PAR 2 project, in cooperation with NAUCS, the Reform Support Team at the Ministry of Economy, and the Higher School of Public Governance. As part of the programme, participants will receive a certificate of completion, as well as 2.2 ECTS credits under Ukraine’s official advanced training system.

Built around five two‑day modules, the programme blends live online sessions with mentoring and hands‑on assignments. Alongside the core content (HR strategy, performance management, analytics, stakeholder engagement etc.), participants also take part in short webinars covering timely topics like civil service competitions, cybersecurity awareness, and conflict management – all designed to support real change inside public institutions.

The admission process was competitive as out of 95 initial applicants, 35 made it through technical screening, motivational essays, and phone interviews. Each participant will design an institution‑specific HR project during the course, guided by seasoned mentors from the public and private sectors. Upon completion, they will receive a certificate that reflects both their academic effort and the tangible real-world impact.

Programmes like the HR Workshop matter because they support the people doing the everyday work of strengthening public institutions. Reform does not happen in theory, it happens when committed professionals apply new ideas in real settings, often under difficult conditions. This training is just one step, but it equips participants with practical tools, a support network, and the confidence to lead change from within.