On 2 December, the Evaluation Centre for Candidates for Civil Service Positions hosted an award ceremony for the winners of the Best Practices in Implementing Educational Innovations in the Vocational Training System competition. This competition was organised by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service with the support of the Council of Europe Programme ‘Strengthening Good Democratic Governance and Resilience in Ukraine’.

The ceremony was opened with welcoming remarks by the Head of the NAUCS, Nataliia Aliushyna, and the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, Maciej Janczak. In their speeches, they emphasised the importance of introducing educational innovations into the civil servants’ training system, especially in the face of current challenges.

The High School of Public Governance was awarded first place in the nomination ‘Professional Training for the Development of English Language Competence of Civil Servants’ due to the implementation of a comprehensive approach to learning English, which includes the creation of an English-language Speaking Club, the organisation of seasonal schools, the development of teaching materials, such as the Foreign Language in Public Administration manuals, and specialised dictionaries, including the Glossary for Public Servants. This practice not only helps to improve the language competence of civil servants, but also provides them with effective tools for successful communication in the international environment, working with global projects and implementing the latest knowledge in their professional activities, among other things.

The award was received on behalf of the School by its head, Yuliia Lykhach, who expressed her gratitude for the support and noted the importance of such initiatives for the development of public administration in Ukraine. ‘This award is evidence that we are moving in the right direction, creating tools that promote the professional growth of civil servants and strengthen their ability to work for the benefit of the state,’ said Ms Likhach.

The event organisers and participants expressed their gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which, even in difficult conditions, manage to carry out such initiatives aimed at strengthening the professional capacity of the state apparatus.