A meeting of the Supervisory Board of the High School of Public Governance was held. Participants reviewed the institution’s performance during the first half of 2026 and discussed priorities for the further development of professional training for civil servants.

Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and a member of the Supervisory Board, delivered opening remarks. He outlined the strategic areas in which the High School could strengthen its role, particularly preparing civil servants for the practical implementation of European Union legislation, developing the professional capacity of local self-government representatives and ensuring the systematic professional development of senior civil servants.

“European integration is no longer merely a matter of adapting legislation. The next stage is its implementation, which is impossible unless civil servants understand the substance of the changes and are able to apply them in practice. Particular attention must be paid to training specialists in regional development and local self-government, as well as to the systematic professional development of Category ‘A’ civil servants following the resumption of competitive selection procedures,” emphasised Oleksandr Korniienko.

Oleg Voitovych, Acting Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, also addressed participants at the opening of the meeting. He emphasised that, amid the war, the implementation of reforms required for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and preparations for post-war recovery, human capital is one of the key factors determining the state’s capacity.

According to him, the professional development of civil servants is not only a component of human resources policy but also a strategic investment in the state’s resilience and effectiveness. Among the priorities for the High School’s future work, Oleg Voitovych highlighted updating curricula in line with European standards and the SIGMA Principles of Public Administration, training a new generation of public service leaders, developing a system of continuous professional development and strengthening international partnerships.

The results of the High School’s activities were presented by Yuliia Lykhach, Director of the High School of Public Governance. During the first half of 2026, 18,077 public servants completed professional development training. The training covered 36 thematic areas and 143 programmes, including 25 professional programmes and 118 short-term programmes. A total of 242 practitioner-trainers and experts were involved in delivering the programmes.

“During the first half of the year, the High School provided professional training to more than 18,000 public servants. At the same time, it is not only the scale that matters to us, but also the extent to which the training content meets the actual needs of the public service. We will continue to update our educational programmes, strengthen their practical component and take into account the recommendations of the Supervisory Board,” said Yuliia Lykhach.

The report covered the professional development of senior civil servants, the preparation of civil servants to perform European integration tasks, training organised by job category, strengthening the capacity of local self-government bodies, as well as programmes on accessibility, veterans’ policy, transitional justice, cybersecurity and countering disinformation.

Oksana Garnets, Chair of the Supervisory Board and President of the DESPRO civil society organisation, gave a positive assessment of the results presented. She emphasised that the High School’s readiness to take on new responsibilities and develop relevant areas characterises it as a dynamic, proactive and creative institution.

During the discussion, particular attention was paid to preparations for the resumption of competitive selection for civil service positions and the role of the Center for Evaluation of Candidates for Civil Service Positions, which operates within the High School. The priorities identified included updating test questions on knowledge of legislation, developing tasks to assess foreign language proficiency and preparing situational exercises.

The discussion helped identify priorities for further updating the High School’s educational programmes to reflect the needs of the public service, the objectives of European integration and Ukraine’s recovery, as well as the development of capable local self-government.

The presentation is available via the following link.